MINISTER of Health Sylvia Masebo has revealed that nearly 8,000 cancer patients succumb to the disease each year in Zambia.
Speaking in the Parliament yesterday , Ms. Masebo highlighted that over 70 percent of the fatalities occur in stages three and four, which are deemed incurable but could still offer a good quality of life with appropriate treatment.
The minister disclosed that alongside the 8,000 deaths, Zambia records more than 13,000 new cancer cases annually.
She said government is, however actively working to enhance the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH), a critical healthcare facility in the country.
Ms Masebo further informed the House that significant progress has been made in revitalising CDH, with additional efforts directed towards expanding cancer treatment services.
She said new cancer centers have been established in Livingstone and on the Copperbelt in Ndola, with the latter expected to be operational by June next year.
Responding to an urgent question from Nakonde Member of Parliament Luka Simumba, Ms. Masebo stressed the commitment of the government to address the challenges posed by the rising cancer cases.
“Madam Speaker, The House may wish to note that Zambia today confirms 13,852 new cancer cases per year, and nearly 8,000 patients die per year because more than 70 percent of these cancer patients are in stage three and four, which are incurable, but can still have a good quality of life with adequate treatment,” she said.
Ms. Masebo said CDH attends to 3,000 patients annually, with 1,800 requiring radiotherapy treatment.
She expressed concern that the diagnostic and radiation treatment machines, installed by Siemens in 2006, have become obsolete and were scheduled for replacement between 2016 and 2019.
“The New Dawn Administration under the able leadership of His Excellency Mr Hakainde Hichilema the President of the Republic of Zambia, measures by allocating money K12 million for repair of the two CT scanners and the MRI in 2022 and in the 2023 Budgets allocation of K300 million to revamp the operations of the facility has been done,” she said.
(Mwebantu, Saturday, 11th November, 2023)