Ndola’s New Cancer Treatment Centre works commence

By BENEDICT TEMBO

GOVERNMENT has commenced work on a New Cancer Treatment Centre in Ndola, in what officials describe as a strategic push to address the country’s rising cancer burden and decentralise specialised oncology services.

Speaking at the official opening of a workshop on the centre’s structure, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services,  Kennedy Lishimpi, said cancer remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in the country and requires urgent, deliberate, and sustainable national interventions.

He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality, equitable, and patient-centred healthcare.

Dr Lishimpi noted the role of the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) in Lusaka, which has for years provided specialised diagnosis, treatment, training, and research for thousands of patients locally and across the region.

However, he noted that the facility is now overstretched, with demand for services far exceeding its original capacity.

This has led to prolonged waiting times, immense pressure on healthcare workers, and strain on medical infrastructure and equipment.

He said the new centre in Ndola will be a vital intervention, significantly decongesting the Lusaka hospital once operational.

The facility is expected to transform healthcare delivery by bringing specialised cancer care closer to residents of the Copperbelt and northern regions, reducing the need for costly long-distance travel to the capital.

According to the Provincial Health Office, the Ndola workshop marks a critical foundational step in delivering the project, which represents a major expansion of the national health response framework.

However, some medical practitioners have expressed concern that Dr Lishimpi’s statement did not provide project timelines to the public, nor did it give an update on the radiotherapy unit being installed at CDH in Lusaka.

They argue that such details are essential to reassure patients and stakeholders about the pace of progress in strengthening cancer care services.

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