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VP Khupe's cancer foundation officially launched
Movement
for Democratic Change
October
26, 2012
Hon. Thokozani
Khupe, the MDC vice president and Zimbabwe's Deputy Prime
Minister, on Wednesday officially launched the Thokozani Khupe Cancer
Foundation.
She said the
treatment of cancer in Zimbabwe was currently not just inaccessible
but expensive too and vowed that the foundation would transform
the lives of cancer patients through rigorous cancer advocacy.
"The board
of this foundation will work tirelessly to improve the plight of
cancer patients throughout Zimbabwe," she said. "Doctors
cure but God heals. I always want to be a good advocate for cancer
so I will not lie to you saying stop taking treatment and go to
pastors but you must do both.
Many women who
suffer breast cancer are dying daily due to the expensive cancer
treatment. It costs about US450 a session when a person requires
at least three sessions a week, Hon Khupe said.
She said government
should reduce cancer costs to US$50 so that more women have access
to treatment.
Hon Khupe who
is a breast cancer survivor said government should give due prominence
to cancer treatment so as to stop people from dying.
"This
is my plea to the government of Zimbabwe; it is high time we give
prominence to cancer because it is killing people. It is a silent
killer and you only know about it when you are about to die,"
Hon Khupe said.
Speaking at
the launch, Hon. Henry Madzorera, the Minister for Health and Child
Welfare, lamented the delayed acceptance by many patients, which
he said, complicated treatments due to late diagnosis.
"Let us
wake up; non-communicable diseases have come to roost in Africa."
He encouraged the involvement of men in the fight against breast
cancer.
"When
you show the women, show the men also. Show them the wounds so that
they have sleepless nights. They should be conscientised because
you cannot fight it without them, Hon. Madzorera said.
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