Rumphi now handling cervical cancer cases

Rumphi District Hospital is no longer referring cervical cancer patients to Mzuzu thanks to the installation of a crytherapy machine at the facility.

The machine, which is used for screening services and is worth K3.5 million ($4 881.45), was handed over last Saturday by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Life Concern (Lico).

Rumphi District Hospital cervical cancer coordinator Catherine Temani said the availability of the machine at the hospital will also see more women accessing treatment close to home.

“We were referring our patients to Mzuzu Central Hospital, but now with the machine it will be possible to treat them right here at the district hospital. We thank Lico for the assistance,” she said.

Temani said out of 850 women who have so far been screened, 104 have been diagnosed with the disease.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Lico executive director Peter Gondwe said the donation is part of the organisation’s health support programme being implemented in the district.

“We are happy that we are finally handing over the crytherapy machine to the hospital. We thank our partner, Southern Africa Aids Trust for the financial support. As an organisation, it is good that we are heading in the right direction as far as health support is concerned,” he said.

The ceremony was also graced by Rumphi district commissioner (DC) Lusizi Nhlane