Inadequate equipment, trained staff hinder access to cancer screening services – PS

Inadequate equipment, trained staff  hinder access to cancer screening services – PS

Ndola Apr 22/13 ZANIS———-Copperbelt Provincial Permanent Secretary, Stanford Mschili, has observed that cancer screening services are not widely and readily available due to inadequate equipment, untrained staff and infrastructure in most health facilities in the country.

ZANIS Ndola reports that Mr Mschili made the observation during the launch of the 6-day District Cancer Screening Campaign which will run from April 22 to 27, 2013 at Kansenshi Secondary School.

Mr Mschili said cancer was a silent killer because people only developed symptoms when the disease was very advanced.

He explained that the aim of cancer screening was to detect cancer before symptoms appeared.

“Early diagnosis may lead to higher rates of successful treatment and extended life. Cancer screening services are, therefore, essential for major forms of treatable cancers,” he said.

The PS has since called on Ndola residents to turn up in large numbers and access the services.

“I am urging all the residents of Ndola to turn up in large numbers and access the screening services which have been brought to their door steps.

And speaking at the same function Ndola District Medical Officer, Kakungu Simpungwe, said the target of the exercise was to capture over 700 women for cervical and breast cancer screening while 180 men were targeted for prostate cancer screening.