-Storella hails state’s cancer fight

Storella hails state’s cancer fight

Livingstone, May 20, 2013, ZANIS… United States Ambassador to Zambia

Mark Storella has praised the government’s efforts to fight

cervical cancer across the country .

Mr Storella added that the US government will  continue to support efforts to contain the disease.

Officially opening the Batoka Hospital cervical Cancer centre funded

by the US government at a cost of over  77 thousand United States dollars, Mr.

Storella said  today that it was pleasing to note that the government has rolled

out an ambitious programme to ensure that women in the country were

screened against the disease.

He noted that the fact that Zambia was ranked second  in the world with

the highest incidences in cervical cancer calls for more concerted

efforts by both the government and other stakeholders to aggressively

fight the disease.

“ I am pleased that the government  has shown commitment in  the fight

against  cervical cancer through establishment of screening centers

which gives us impetus to  continue supporting such actions in order

to prevent loss of women to the disease,” said Mr. Storella.

“And the fact that Zambia is 2nd in the world with high incidences of

cervical cancer means that it kills more Zambian women and therefore

it is important that more sustained efforts and partnerships are

encouraged to effectively fight the disease”, he noted.

The ambassador also paid particularly homage to the First Lady

Dr Christine Kaseba- Sata for her active involvement in the fight

against the disease emphasized that the fight against disease need

concerted efforts from both the government and major stakeholders.

Speaking earlier Provincial Medical Health Officer Dr Atanga Alisheke

said four other cervical cancer screening and treatment centres will

be opened in Mazabuka, Kalomo, Choma and Linda compounds before the end

of this year.

He implored all women in the province to take advantage of the new

centres to check themselves for early screening for both cervical

cancer and breast cancer.

Dr Alisheke also thanked the government for opening the long awaited

centres which he noted will drastically help thousands of women who

used to travel to Lusaka for the same services.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador said the United Nations World Tourism

General Assembly (UNWTO) will add a sparkle to the bright future of

tourism in Zambia.

The Ambassador who rode on a bicycle with other government officials

from the Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula international airport  to Batoka

Hospital is tomorrow expected to take  part in the  Bike Across

Borders with  his counterpart U.S Ambassador to Zimbabwe,  Bruce

Wharton in a bid to promote tourism, economic growth and wildlife

conservation in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The American diplomats will lead the delegation of cyclists that will

also include Tourism and Arts Minister Ms Sylvia Masebo, visiting Miss

USA Nana Meriwether and other cyclists from the US embassy and Zambian

Youth Ambassadors.

The US Bike Across Borders initiative trip highlights the economic

and conservations merits of tourism ahead of the UNWTO to be co-hosted

between Zambia and Zimbabwe in August from 24th to 29th, 2013.

ENDS/