Mpilo Hospital to get new radiotherapy machines

GOVERNMENT has bought five new radiotherapy machines to be installed at Parirenyatwa and Mpilo Central hospitals. More than 7 000 cases of cancer are diagnosed each year at Government hospitals.

Director for Radiotherapy in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Dr Ntokozo Ndlovu yesterday said the first machine was expected in the country this week.

"The machines we had been using - two at Mpilo and three at Parirenyatwa - were donated a long time ago and are constantly breaking down," she said.

"Repair costs of the old machines had become expensive and the International Atomic Energy Agency recommended that we buy new ones."

Dr Ndlovu said the capacity to safely install the machines to avoid radioactive leaks was in place.

She said that renovations were taking place in the departmental rooms where the new machines would be installed.

The Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe will hold the final inspection of the installed machines.

The only functioning radiotherapy machine at Parirenyatwa broke down last month, leaving thousands of cancer patients stranded.

Concern has also been raised that there was no qualified engineer to repair that linear accelerator machine.

The engineer who regularly repaired the machine is based in South Africa.

Radiotherapy machines are used to attack cancerous cells in the body through emitting rays that kill them.

The machines manage to treat 98 percent of cancer.

There are many different kinds of cancers that can develop in any organ including the lungs, colon, breast, skin, bones or nerve tissue. Some of the cancer causes include excessive alcohol intake, chemicals, obesity, viruses, radiation, genetic problems and excess exposure to sunlight.

Health analysts have applauded the acquisition of the five machines saying the move will go a long way in providing invaluable service to the country. The majority of Zimbabweans rely on Government hospitals for cancer treatment, which is expensive at private hospitals.

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