THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has handed over a consignment of critical medical equipment to Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care, aimed at enhancing cervical and breast cancer screening services under the Women Integrated Cancer Services (WICS) Project.
The initiative is currently being rolled out in Matabeleland South and Mashonaland West provinces, with selected facilities, including Shabwe Clinic in Beitbridge and Hurungwe District Hospital, expected to immediately benefit.
The consignment includes four gynaecological examination couches, seven stethoscopes, eight peak flow meters, 11 glucometers, seven pulse oximeters, two laptops and five desktop computers.
Speaking at the handover ceremony this Tuesday, Dr Najibullah Safi, WHO Coordinator for Strategic Health Policy and Planning, described the support as a vital step toward reducing the burden of cancer through an integrated approach rooted in primary health care.
“Our support goes beyond equipment. WHO is also providing technical assistance in developing policy guidance, updating clinical guidelines, and producing training materials for cervical and breast cancer, as well as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health. The urgency of this initiative cannot be overstated,” Dr Safi said.
He noted that cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the region, accounting for over 22% of all female cancer deaths, while breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed.
“An estimated 2.7 million women aged 25 to 54 are affected. The socioeconomic toll is immense, over 60% experience anxiety or depression, and more than 70% face financial hardship,” Dr Safi said.
To address this crisis, WHO is supporting countries through the Global Breast Cancer Initiative, which aims to reduce breast cancer mortality by 2.5% annually, and the Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, which seeks to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the government, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Aspect Maunganidze, expressed appreciation, describing the gesture as a “beacon of hope” for underserved communities.
“This donation, focusing on breast and cervical cancer screening alongside NCD and mental health integration, is a milestone in our pursuit of equitable health access. These statistics are not just numbers; they represent mothers, sisters, and daughters lost too soon,” he said.
Dr Maunganidze reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the 2030 cervical cancer elimination targets of 90% HPV vaccination coverage, 70% screening, and 90% treatment access. He further highlighted the burden of non-communicable diseases, which account for nearly 30% of deaths nationwide.
“Urbanisation and shifting lifestyles demand a robust health response. Our National Health Strategy prioritises early detection, education, and essential medicine access. This equipment will strengthen our outreach, especially in rural and marginalised communities,” he said.
Mental health support, he added, remains a critical pillar of Zimbabwe’s health agenda, and he commended the WICS project for incorporating psychosocial care as part of its package.
The WICS Project, which also covers Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire, aims to reach at least 30 000 women by 2026, with a broader goal of strengthening integrated service delivery for cancer, NCDs, and mental health at the primary care level.
