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Mzuzu Central Hospital lacks cancer specialists

Lack of professional doctors to treat cancer at Mzuzu Central Hospital (MCH) has led to the facility stopping administering some  treatment on patients as such medicines require well-trained doctors to administer them, a hospital senior official has disclosed.

Speaking at the end of the World Cancer Day commemorations held at MCH on Thursday, Mzuzu Central Hospital medical officer Ruth Nyirenda said the health facility is facing a lot of challenges when it comes to treating cancer patients in Northern Region.

Facing budgetary challenges: Mzuzu Central Hospital
Facing budgetary challenges: Mzuzu Central Hospital

She said: “We are failing to administer some of the cancer drugs to our patients because there is no well-trained doctor resulting in us sending patients to Lilongwe and Blantyre for treatment.”

She,however, said lack of specialised doctors to treat cancer has not made the hospital relent in its fight against the disease.

Nyirenda said the central hospital will work with district hospitals to raise awareness on the disease and help decrease discrimination and stigmatisation.

On his part,  Mzuzu City Deputy Mayor Frazer Chunga called on all people to unite and fight against cancer.

“We are going to sit down as council and see how we can help fight against cancer in our city and map the way forward on the issue of having professional doctors at Mzuzu Central Hospital.

“If people are sick now and then, the country suffers a lot in terms of development because family members are busy taking care of patients,” he said.

World Cancer Day was established in 2000 to raise cancer awareness to patients and the public. It is commemorated on February 4 every year worldwide and this year’s theme is: We Can, You Can.

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