Zambians must stop waiting for symptoms before they get checked for cancer, Lima MP Kelvin Kunda has warned, as nearly 9,800 of our people die from the disease every year.
Speaking on Saturday at the Rotary Club of Maluba's free annual cancer screening event at Twikatane Mall in Barlastone Park, Lusaka, the law maker said late detection is killing Zambians who could have been saved.
16,600 Zambians diagnosed every year
Kunda cited figures from the International Agency for Research on Cancer showing that approximately 16,600 Zambians are diagnosed with cancer annually, while nearly 9,800 die from the disease, according to LusakaTimes.com.
That is not a small number. That is a whole district of our people lost every single year, many of them because the disease was found too late, when treatment becomes harder and more expensive for ordinary families already stretched to the limit.
┬лNot knowing does not protect you. Knowing does,┬╗ Kunda said, calling on Zambians to overcome fear, stigma and misconceptions around screening.
Why early detection matters for Zambian families
The MP said early detection improves the chances of successful treatment, cuts the financial burden on families, and can even prevent some cancers altogether, especially cervical cancer, which hits our women hard.
He said cancer is a major health concern that needs collective effort from government, the private sector and communities. This is where we should be proud: Zambians helping Zambians, not waiting for some foreign blueprint to tell us how to care for our own.
Kunda commended the Rotary Club of Maluba for running its free screening and awareness initiative for 22 straight years. About 4,400 people have been educated on cancer prevention and screened through the programme over that period.
He called for more partnerships to expand screening access, especially in underserved communities, and urged churches, community health volunteers and other local groups to carry the message.
700 people targeted this year
Rotary Club of Maluba President Chanja Makai said the club aims to screen 700 people during this year's initiative.
┬лWe are hoping to capture about 300 men and 400 women. So men will be testing for both prostate and breast cancer,┬╗ she said.
The services are being provided free of charge, in partnership with health professionals from Kanyama Level One Hospital and CDH. Screening covers breast, cervical and prostate cancer, with the prostate and breast components added as the initiative grew over its 22 years.
Makai encouraged families to attend together, stressing that screening is quick and can detect cancer even in people who feel perfectly fine. She said the club has heard testimonies from survivors who have lived cancer-free for years after diagnosis and treatment, proof that early detection works.
Local companies stepping up
Synergy Seeds Zambia Chief Executive Officer Brian Mhango said the company is proud to partner with the Rotary Club of Maluba and other stakeholders to make screening accessible to communities.
┬лEarly detection saves lives, and screening is one of the most important steps we can take towards protecting our health,┬╗ Mhango said, urging Zambians not to wait until they feel unwell before taking their health seriously.
He said the initiative shows that good health is the foundation for strong families, productive workplaces and thriving communities. Here is a Zambian company putting its money behind Zambian lives, the kind of homegrown solidarity that builds a nation.
What Zambians should do now
The message from Barlastone Park is simple: get screened, get your family screened, and do it now, not when the pain starts. The screening is free, it is quick, and it is run by our own health workers from Kanyama Level One Hospital and CDH.
With churches, volunteers and local businesses now being called into the fight, the push is to take screening beyond Lusaka into the communities that need it most. Every Zambian checked early is a mother, father, worker or child we do not lose to a disease we can beat.
Frequently asked questions
How many Zambians get cancer each year?
About 16,600 Zambians are diagnosed with cancer annually and nearly 9,800 die from it, according to International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates cited by MP Kelvin Kunda.
Where can Zambians get free cancer screening?
The Rotary Club of Maluba is providing free breast, cervical and prostate cancer screening at its annual event, with health professionals from Kanyama Level One Hospital and CDH.
How many people will be screened this year?
Rotary Club of Maluba President Chanja Makai said the club targets about 700 people: roughly 300 men and 400 women.