By Lorraine Muwuya
KidzCan Zimbabwe has re-assured the nation that cancer in children can be cured especially when detected and treated earlier.
Cancer has been a disease mostly associated with the white community, the rich, and the elderly. Zimbabwe is among the nations not spared by the disease.
The truth be told it is a global epidemic, and it is still affecting all ages, race, colour, creed, tribe as well as financial status.
Speaking to this publication, Kidzcan director, Dr. Daniel MacKenzie, said cancer cases and deaths have been on the rise for the past decade. He said that due to the shortage of and expensive drugs to treat cancer, a lot of people have lost their lives.
“Cancer in children can be cured if detected and treated early. We have successfully treated children with cancer and our hope is that there is a need to raise awareness on the need for people to diagnose for cancer among children so as to address the problem of an increase in the loss of lives due to the disease,” Dr. MacKenzie said.
He said the organization remains the voice of the voiceless to represent children with cancer.
Dr. MacKenzie said his organization seeks the increase of survival rate in children diagnosed of cancer to 60% by 2030 from the current 10%.
“Due to the harsh economic climate, the organization has not been able to meet its expectations. We are seeking for partnership with the government and other stakeholders to support childhood cancer patients”, he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Oncologist Professor Inam Chitsike pleaded with the government for support in making cancer treatment cheaper. She called on families to give support to parents of children diagnosed with cancer.
Professor Chitsike who has 40 years in the service working with children diagnosed with cancer from Parirenyatwa Hospital, underscored the fact that cancer if detected early, can be cured.
Kidzcan is a humanitarian organization that supports child cancer treatment and care. Yesterday, it donated to the Ministry of Health and Child Care cancer drugs worth thousands of dollars.
