Prominent Zimbabwean boxer, Charles Manyuchi last Saturday underwent a Netone sponsored breast cancer screening during the Community Health Expo in Mabvuku, Harare.
Netone Cellular Limited in conjunction with Cancer Association of Zimbabwe held the Expo to offer free breast cancer screening during the weekend.
Speaking after the screening, the boxer encouraged men to also go for screening and said health is more important than anything else.
“As sportsmen, in boxing, health comes as the first priority over everything else,” Manyuchi said speaking in vernacular. “You cannot continue to do sports without good health.”
Manyuchi also thanked the Expo sponsors and said such a program helps Zimbabwe as a whole.
Mabvuku residents expressed their joy on the Community Health Expo which witnessed over 100 women, nearly 20 men screened by midday during the expo according to Executive Public Relations, Netone Cellular Limited, Dr Elder Shereni.
Phoebe Shoko, who took part in the screening said breast cancer screening is important especially to women who are burdened with household chores such as cleaning, washing plates. Added to such chores is fetching water, with the City of Harare failing to deliver the liquid in residents suburbs.
Shoko also requested for the program to continue taking place for cancer to be discovered early and be treated on time.
A Mabvuku man who took part in the screening Michael Murapandebvu said he was happy with the breast cancer screening which also targeted men.
The Executive PR said Netone chose Mabvuku for the expo because it is a big community where sometimes people don’t have an opportunity to free screening, especially regarding cancer.
Shereni said her organisation wants to do more and more for the community in terms of creating awareness around certain conditions people may not know much about.
“Programs like this allow people the opportunity to actually get detected early and then be given options for treatment which will give them a new lease of life,” Shereni said.
Netone, from a long term perspective, will be going to its five zones around Zimbabwe holding community health expos.
Cancer Association of Zimbabwe, Managing Director, Junior Mavu revealed that breast cancer is very rare with 14 black and 4 white men were being diagnosed with beats cancer according to 2016 statistics.
“Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Zimbabwe and is ranked on fourth in terms of mortality,” said Mavu.
Shereni also revealed that nine referrals were made for further assessment and further treatment during the expo.
Experts found no signs of breast cancer on Manyuchi after screening.
