Prisoners get cancer screening
INMATES and staff in all the five prisons in Manicaland Province received breast, cervix and prostate cancer education and screening services, thanks to Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) in partnership with Delta Corporation.
The programme covered Chipinge, Mutare Farm and Remand, Little Kraal in Nyazura and Rusape prisons.
The campaign started with breast, cervix, and prostate cancer education sessions in a bid to empower the participants before being screened.
Breast education equipped the participants with skills on how to conduct a self-breast examination and what to look out for.
In a statement, CAZ wrote, “The female, male prisoners and prison staff were encouraged to ask questions to ensure that feedback was obtained. The total number of women and men screened were 401, one male prisoner for breast cancer, 108 for breast and cervical cancer and 292 for prostate cancer.
“A male prisoner at Mutare Farm Prison who had breast examination had a lump. He went for an ultrasound sound in Mutare, and the results were normal, showing gynaecomastia (over development /enlargement of the breast tissue in men or boys caused by a hormone imbalance).
“All breast examinations done to women were normal. One lady from Chipinge Prison had precancerous cells and was referred to
Chipinge District Hospital.
“She was treated with Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP). All prostate cancer screening cases were normal. Overall, the outreach programme went on very well.
“Mobilisation was good in all the five prisons. Prison guards and their dependants also benefited from the breast, cervix, and prostate cancer screening.
“There were two Kaposi Sarcoma prisoners identified during the outreach programme whom CAZ is negotiating with prison authorities to have them reintegrated into the Kaposi Sarcoma Clinic at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.”
All the left-over sanitary wear was donated to Rusape female prisoners which was their last stop.
The CAZ statement further reads: “CAZ would like to take this opportunity to thank Delta Corporation for generously supporting CAZ to fulfil its vision and mission. Your support is greatly appreciated and made a positive impact to the vulnerable population.”
CAZ is a non-profit making organisation formed in 1961 and a registered welfare organisation with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
Cancer survivors and volunteers established CAZ to support each other morally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually after a cancer diagnosis.
From inception, CAZ has continued to grow in providing cancer support services to cancer patients and their families including cancer awareness and screening programmes.