By Sifelani Tsiko, Senior Writer
Zimbabwe has made huge strides in improving the collection of information of all new cancer cases helping to increase surveillance and the implementation cancer programmes in the country. The Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry (ZNCR), in its latest 2015 report, indicated that it had stepped up the collection of up-to-date information on the burden of cancer in the country in line with the country’s national cancer prevention and control strategies.
“The ZNCR is pleased to publish the annual report for 2015 less than a year after the release of the 2014 report. This is consistent with its objective of providing reliable and up-to-date information on the incidence and pattern of cancer occurrence in Zimbabwe, especially for the country’s national cancer prevention and control plans. The movement towards achieving complete coverage for the country is ongoing, and was further accelerated in 2015 with registration of a record number of cancer cases,” said Prof Margaret Borok, medical director of the registry in the report.
The 2015 report indicates a rise in the current level of use of the ZNCR database as evidenced by increased requests for data.
“The data are extensively utilised by indigenous and international researchers, conference participants, lecturers, students, health educators and policy makers for management planning and cancer control programmes. In recent times, the ZNCR has become increasingly involved in national cancer prevention and control issues and activities,” Prof Borok wrote in the report.
Furthermore, data from the ZNCR has been accepted for publication in two prestigious international monographs on cancer incidence to be published by the World Health Organisation and the International Association of Cancer registries (IARC). Data on childhood cancer will also be published in the upcoming third edition of the “International Incidence of Childhood Cancer” (IICC-III) for the second consecutive period. The ZNCR will also contribute data to volume 11 of the “Cancer Incidence in five Continents” monographs (CI5-XI) for a record fifth successive time.
“These are no mean achievements which clearly testify to the high quality data generated by the registry,” the cancer registry said.
PRIVACY & SURVEILLANCE IN AFRICA 