Chipo’s double burden: Battling cancer and blindness as a widow and mother of five

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Chipo, a widowed mother of five from Binga, Siabuwa, sat under a tree shed near the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in Victoria Falls, her eyes cloudy with cataracts.

Despite her struggles with skin cancer and blindness, she radiated a sense of determination and strength.

“I spent six years at Parirenyatwa hospital,” Chipo began, her voice laced with a hint of desperation. “I had wounds on my eyes which started in 2000, and I was told it was cancer.” She paused, her hands reaching out to them to illustrate. “The right one is giving me problems again. It’s always bleeding. The left one has completely lost sight, but currently, it’s better.”

Chipo’s skin required special care, but she lacked access to the necessary soap, leading to dryness and cracking. “I have to keep going for my children’s sake,”

“We survive on street begging. I make about US$5 on a good week, which I bank and when it gets to US$10, I send it home for the children to eat because there is too much drought back home.”

Chipo’s story is a testament to the struggles many Zimbabweans face in accessing cancer treatment.

With limited resources and centralized services, many are forced to seek alternative means of support, like street begging.

Background:

Cancer is a growing concern in Zimbabwe, with over 7 500 new cases and over 2 500 deaths recorded annually.

According to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry 2018 Annual Report, the most frequently occurring cancers among Zimbabweans are cervix uteri (21%), prostate (11%), breast (8%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (5%), oesophagus (4%), Kaposi sarcoma (KS) (4%), colo-rectal (4%), stomach (3%), and liver (3%).

The report also highlights that cancer diagnosis and treatment are centralized in major towns, making it inaccessible to many.

As Chipo’s story highlights, the need for accessible and affordable cancer services in Zimbabwe is more pressing than ever.