There is hope for cancer patients in Malawi following the construction of International Blantyre Cancer City which President Lazarus Chakwera opened on Tuesday.
The Thomson and Barbara Mpinganjira and Luxemburg-based constructed the facility in a joint venture to the tune of 5.2 billion Euros (about K9.6 billion).
Speaking during the launch of the facility, President Chakwera disclosed that government spends over 15,000 US dollars which is approximately K25 million per cancer patient, seeking radiotherapy treatment in foreign hospitals, excluding lodging and travel costs.
“We are grateful for the Thomson and Barbra Foundation for the facility. This will relieve the country from such costs unlike in the past where patients needed to travel,” he said.
President Chakwera has since called for concerted efforts in the fight against cancer.
Speaking on behalf of Minister of Health Khumbizo Kandodo-Chiponda, Richard Chimwendo Banda, who is Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, said the country registers nearly 17,000 cancer cases annually, with low survival rates.
“12,000 cancer patients die annually. The facility is now a beacon of hope to the nation,” he said.
Chimwendo added that 50 percent of deaths in the country are as a result of cancer.
In his remarks , the co-founder of the International Blantyre Cancer Centre Mpinganjira said the facility is a game changer in the country’s efforts in fighting cancer.
“The centre will also save the country’s foreign exchange spend on referrals for cancer patients to be treated abroad,” he said.
Mpinganjira said the foundation started following the diagnosis of cancer of his wife Barbara on 27 January 2017 and her subsequent death on 4th January 2019.
“We stayed in South Africa for 3 months just for cancer treatment. It was out of that experience that prompted me to construct the centre,” he said.
Mpinganjira further revealed plans to construct another cancer centre in Lilongwe.
The first phase of the project has cost about 5.2 million Euros approximately K9.62 billion.
The facility will have the capacity to treat 30 radio therapy and 10 chemotherapy patients on a daily basis in its first phase of operation.
