Child cancer cases rise in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is witnessing a steady rise in childhood cancer cases, placing heavy emotional and financial strain on families and highlighting gaps in early diagnosis and specialised care. Once considered largely an adult condition, cancer is increasingly filling paediatric wards across the country.

According to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry, 263 cases were recorded among children aged 0 to 14 years in 2019, representing 13.7 percent of all cancer cases that year. The most common forms include leukaemia (18%), renal tumours (13%), retinoblastoma (6%), lymphomas (13%), and central nervous system tumours (10%).

For families, the journey to diagnosis is often long and uncertain. Mrs Charity Dhewa from Zaka recalls the emotional ordeal when her three-year-old son was diagnosed with Wilms tumour, a kidney cancer. After several referrals and misdiagnoses, she finally received confirmation at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. With support from KidzCan Zimbabwe, which provides accommodation, medication, and psychosocial assistance, she has been able to focus on her son's treatment.

Similarly, Ms Nomathemba Ncube from Lupane shared her experience when her three-year-old grandson was diagnosed with kidney cancer in June. She urged families to seek early medical care, noting that delays due to traditional beliefs often worsen outcomes.

Health experts warn that most childhood cancers in Zimbabwe are detected late, reducing survival chances. Misdiagnoses at primary health facilities and delayed referrals contribute to poor outcomes. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually. Survival rates exceed 80% in high-income countries but fall below 20% in low- and middle-income nations like Zimbabwe due to late diagnosis, drug shortages, and inadequate specialised care.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September has become a vital period for raising awareness, mobilising resources, and encouraging early intervention. Mr Gift Marunda, finance manager at KidzCan, emphasised the importance of early detection: "Children are presenting to hospitals very late, which increases treatment costs and reduces chances of survival. Early detection, referral, and treatment can save lives."

Zimbabwe participates in the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC), aiming to raise survival rates to at least 60% by 2030. Through partnerships with government agencies and other stakeholders, KidzCan supports chemotherapy, diagnostics, and welfare for affected families. The organisation also runs awareness campaigns in communities and schools, encouraging timely referrals and dispelling myths about childhood cancer.

Mr Marunda stressed that combating childhood cancer requires collective effort. "Childhood cancer cannot be fought by one entity. Collaboration is key, and we encourage corporates and communities to join us in supporting these children and their families."

For many Zimbabwean families, the fight against childhood cancer is not only medical but also social, requiring awareness, timely intervention, and robust support systems to improve survival and quality of life.