Angel of Hope takes medical outreach to Gokwe
Tendai Rupapa
Health ambassador First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa warmed many hearts yesterday when she took her two-day medical outreach and wellness programme to Gokwe.
The programme unlocked access to vital health checks for free, for communities including people living in hard-to-reach areas, and the First Lady gave clinics equipment and medical sundries.
Using her Angel of Hope Foundation ( AoHF)’s mobile hospital and mobile clinic, which were manned by personnel from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Mnangagwa ensured women were screened for cervical and breast cancer while men were screened for prostate cancer.
Other services offered included HIV and Aids testing, and checks for diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases so that beneficiaries are well informed about their health.
The First Lady, through her AoHF, donated tonnes of rice and mealie meal to communities, while clinics received walking aids, wheelchairs, sanitary pads, gloves, and surgical masks.
The elderly received food and toiletry hampers while pregnant women were given baby preparation kits.
Amai Mnangagwa also donated stationery and sanitary pads to schoolchildren.
“I am giving learners these things because I want children to stay in school. At my age, I graduated with a PhD recently and it is my wish to prove to women and children that education is infinite and knows no age,” she said to wild applause.
When she arrived at Mapfungautsi Polyclinic, the mother of the nation started by interacting with women and men who were awaiting their turn to be screened for cervical, breast, and prostate cancer, giving them words of encouragement.
“It’s not painful my daughters and you grandmothers. I am glad you have come to know where you stand. I go for regular cancer screening, there is nothing fierce or painful. It’s good to know where you stand when it comes to your health. It is good to know early before the disease is advanced because if detected early, it can be cured,” she said.
She further commended men who came for prostate cancer screening imploring other men to follow suit.
So touching was the First Lady’s programme that it drove many to tears while some beneficiaries admitted they had never undertaken health checks like cancer screening.
The First Lady’s medical outreach was timely as it came at a time when the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe warned that in Zimbabwe, cancer was a major cause of morbidity and mortality with over 5 000 new diagnoses and over 1 500 deaths per year.
The number of people developing cancer, the association warned, is expected to increase due to HIV and AIDS and other infections and unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Dr Mnangagwa also held an interactive session with the community, promoting the consumption of traditional food that has high nutritional value and medicinal properties.
She also warned against domestic violence, drug and substance abuse as well as general lawlessness among youths.
Dr Mnangagwa urged the community to take advantage of the medical outreach to get screened and seek treatment early.
“It is my pleasure to be back here in Gokwe this new year as we thank the Almighty God for pulling us through. I come here in the Midlands Province with an assortment of programmes, but today, I have come primarily focusing on cancer, HIV and Aids, diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases so that we know where we stand health-wise. I came here with the Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba programme teaching children good manners. I kindly ask the elderly, our chiefs, and their spouses to carry forward the programme by sitting children down and inculcating in them good morals,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said it was essential for people to know their health status.
“Today I encourage everyone present to be screened free of charge and leave this place knowing their health status. We say no to those who ascribe illnesses to unsubstantiated claims of witchcraft; go and be screened so that you get treatment.
“Cancer is a serious disease, but only you can win the war over it. If you bottle up and do not seek treatment when it is in its initial stages, you cut short your life. Cancer has stages, therefore my appeal to you is to be screened early so that you get treatment before it spreads. I was gratified to see men coming for health checks.
“Men seldom come forward for health checks. Mostly men shun having their health checked. For some men, if their wife is said to be healthy, they then conclude that they are also healthy, but this is not the case.
“Men must feel free to present for health checks,” she said.
The health ambassador said children were not spared as they needed to be checked too.
“Even the younger children get checked as well because HPV Human papillomavirus affects young people. I also warn young girls against rushing into sexual relations before the time is ripe because you place yourselves at risk of contracting many diseases. Virginity is a once-off state. As parents let us cast our eyes on our children, assessing their movements. These children are ruined by drugs and need parental guidance.
“Cancer is a global challenge and not for Zimbabwe alone. It knows no age, therefore let us guard our health jealously. Statistics show that cervical cancer is not the top of all cancers. I have also brought along experts from the National Aids Council. They have come to warn us against defaulting on taking (ARV) pills even when you reach the stage of not transmitting the infection to others.
“Some diseases which mostly affect people are linked to HIV. Some women are exposing themselves to the risk of contracting cervical cancer by inserting herbs in their private parts. Do not do that because you kill yourself. Do not be a backyard nurse without qualifications. I heard from another province that women were inserting herbs in their private parts so that men would not leave them. But if you die, he will continue with life with other women,” she said.
The mother of the nation encouraged communities to take traditional food which has high nutritional value and medicinal properties.
“These medications we receive from hospitals work well with traditional food, which is nutritious. Which vegetables do we get during the rainy season?” she asked.
A learner responded by saying munyevhe and when asked where it was found, the child said in the forest.
However, Amai corrected the child saying nyevhe was found in the fields.
She encouraged women to dry these vegetables for future consumption.
The First Lady also urged women to cultivate traditional grains and plant fruit trees at their homesteads as well as rearing chickens and ducks.
Dr Mnangagwa also spoke against domestic violence adding that fighting in the home triggered ailments like hypertension.
“Let us live in harmony in the homes so that we raise our children in peace.
“If you keep fighting, you lose focus on children and it ends up as a dog-eat-dog affair in the home,” she said.
Mrs Thobekile Nkala (52) praised the First Lady her for the programme.
“I am happy today because the First Lady has brought a hospital to our doorstep.
“Most of us women are living in our homes without knowing our breast and cervical cancer status.
“I encourage all women out there to come out and be screened.
“Dr Mnangagwa is doing a wonderful programme for us, free of charge, so let us be screened. This is great work in the country,” she said.
Mrs Felenzia Mundenda (58) echoed similar sentiments.
“I thank the First Lady for rolling out this programme so that we can be screened for breast and cervical cancer.
“Getting screened helps us know our status and look after our grandchildren. It gives us strength to work knowing where we stand,” she said.
Men were upbeat too.
Mr Misheck Pumwe was grateful for being afforded the chance to be screened, saying doing so would help save lives.
“I have learnt something that I did not know in the past.
“I always thought that if my wife is said to be safe, it applies to me as well.
“I also need to be tested so that I can start getting treatment to live longer. May God bless our First Lady for her great love,” he said.
Mr Robert Dhliwayo weighed in saying: “This is something I will encourage my peers at work to do.
“We need to be tested regularly because you may be sick, but ignorant of the fact. What the First Lady has said needs to be put into practice so that I can live long enough to see my grandchildren growing up.”
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, thanked the First Lady for her intervention.
“We cannot, as a country, just thank you by word of mouth because you have taken us from where we were and put us on the pedestal of success in terms of health.
“There are some hard-to-reach areas but through your vision Amai and the President, of leaving no place and no one behind, we thank you.
“Cancer is a serious disease that is troubling us as the Ministry of Health because these deaths are on the increase.
“Men were not spared as they are also dying. As health ambassador, our mother is doing good for the country,” he said.
In a speech read on his behalf by Mr Charltone Murove, Director Local Government Services, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, saluted the First Lady for her unconditional love.
“Allow me to cordially welcome you and all the distinguished guests to the Midlands Province as we gather for the landmark occasion of the cancer screening and wellness programme here at Mapfungautsi Clinic in Gokwe Central.
“Today’s programme complements the national health strategy, the NDS1 pillar on health and well-being and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 3 on Good Health and Well-being passionately pursued by the Second Republic under the able and visionary leadership of President, Dr ED Mnangagwa.
“Amai your programmes and projects are transformational.
“Today you have bridged the gap between the patients and health personnel.
“We appreciate your commitment and hard work,” he said. – Herald