CASSAVA Smartech’s Maisha Health has unveiled a new partnership with Cancerserve Trust, which seeks to assist Zimbabweans living with cancer.
Through the partnership, Maisha has committed a portion of its monthly revenue to support cancer treatment of patients in Zimbabwe’s public hospitals through the Cancerserve Trust.
Announcing the groundbreaking partnership, Cassava Smartech Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Eddie Chibi, said his company would continue using innovation to address pressing societal issues and to support worthy causes.
“Cassava Smartech will, through its brands, continue to do well by doing good to use innovation to offer sustainable, technology-driven solutions that impact people’s lives, including those fighting cancer or undergoing cancer treatment,” he said.
Founder and chair of Cancerserve Trust, Dr. Anna Nyakabau, commended Maisha for the partnership and called upon corporates and other organizations to follow suit.
She said the Maisha-Cancerserve Trust fund would primarily target breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancers, which are the most prevalent cancers.
The partnership comes as Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world this month in commemorating World Breast Cancer Awareness month, which is also recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Dr Nyakabau said cancer prevalence was high in Zimbabwe, currently estimated to be affecting over 36 in every 100 000 people, compared to around six in every 100 000 in developed nations.
She said she believed the partnership with Maisha would help bring that ratio down.
According to WHO, a majority of breast cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, where most women with breast cancer are diagnosed in its late stages, mainly due to lack of awareness on early detection as well as due to barriers to treatment and health services.
Maisha leverages innovative mobile technologies to raise awareness, promote wellness and enhance health services delivery, reaching over a million people that are subscribed to the services in Zimbabwe and other African countries.
It provides health education and advice for healthy living and wellness via the mobile phone.
By subscribing to the service, users get the most relevant and tailored health education on a wide variety of topics, ranging from stress management, weight loss, oral health, diabetes and many more, in English and in local languages.
Working with local cancer specialists, Maisha has developed a new cancer content package that raises cancer awareness, prevention, early detection and treatment.