Mpilo Hospital to offer full cancer treatment

Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo is set to start offering full cancer treatment in the next two months as installation of equipment is currently underway at the institution's radiotherapy centre.

The radiotherapy centre will be a welcome development to cancer patients from Matabeleland who currently have to travel to Harare for radiotherapy treatment.

Mpilo clinical director Dr Wedu Ndebele said that part of the equipment for treating cervical cancer has already been installed at the centre with demonstrations and treatment on patients expected in the next few weeks.

A CT scanner and a CT simulator used in radiotherapy will be installed this month.

A gamma camera used for diagnosing cancer has also been installed and Dr Ndebele revealed that it has already been used to diagnose some patients.

The hospital has since dispatched personnel to Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare for training on similar equipment.

While Mpilo offers chemotherapy treatment, in some instances patients are asked to bring their own drugs as the hospital sometimes runs out of stocks.

However, children requiring cancer treatment of whatever type have to travel to Parirenyatwa as Mpilo does not have a specialist for cancer treatment in children.

Common types of cancers in Zimbabwe include cervical, breast, prostate and Kaposi sakoma.