Currently, all public health institutions in Zimbabwe have no working radiotherapy machines. This has resulted in a number of cancer patients failing to access treatment.
The last radiotherapy ceased to function two months ago. It was reported back then that US$53 000 was required to repair the machines.
Lovemore Makurirofa, spokesperson for the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe said the situation is saddening. He said:
It is a sad situation that the machines are not working because that compromises the quality of treatment, because most of the patients in stage 3 or 4 require combination treatment of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Some cancer patients in the final stage need what is termed palliative radiotherapy, which is basically meant to manage pain. So, in the absence of this facility, they suffer unimaginable pain.
Earlier, the ministry of Information posted via its Twitter account indicating that the money had been secured, yet, nothing has changed up to date. The tweet read:
Government has noted reports that Parirenyatwa and Mpilo Hospitals are failing to repair broken down radiotherapy machines due to forex challenges. The US$53 000 needed was availed last week, but the hospitals are failing to transact owing to sanctions restrictions on the banks they use.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals spokesperson Lenos Dhire revealed that the group has paid for the spares which are already in transit to the hospital. Dhire further revealed that once they are received, engineers from South Africa will come and fix the machines.
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