By Farai Chikore
CHINHOYI – PATIENTS with chronic diseases experience either major or minor physical symptoms associated with their condition and are faced with the challenge of managing them while maintaining their lifestyle.
Research and survey done by Telegraph through visiting patients with chronic diseases shows that some people do not take much consideration of minor symptoms which are life-threatening.
The non HIV/AIDS related chronic diseases like hypertension, cancer and epilepsy can affect a person’s daily life, restricting their enjoyment of normal activities with family and friends.
The physical limitations that are caused by chronic conditions are just the tip of the iceberg and significant emotional challenges exist. Additionally, learning that it may be impossible to be cured of a condition can have a major emotional toll on the patient.
Some emotional challenges that chronic sufferers must cope with include fear, denial, anger, or depression.
Former Chinhoyi Member of Parliament Stewart Garadhi (68), who survives with diabetes, shared his experience in an interview with Telegraph. He said high cost of care was inescapable with chronic conditions, as patients simply needed to use healthcare facilities more frequently.
“Since 2010 ndopandakanzi ndine sugar, but it was controlled with tablets up to the time yandakanzi ndizvibaye insulin. Ndinozvibaya 20 millimeters every day after food. Ndikanzwa kunge yadzika stereki ndinodya sweet to boost my sugar levels failure to do so might lead me into a diabetic coma.
“The condition is so expensive you need to feed yourself after every two hours, even the medication needs money. I use about US $12 every month ndichizotenga syringe again. Medication inoda fridge because it needs to be stored at 12 degrees. Hazvidi kunwa doro because you end up wakukanganwa mushonga. Government should subsidise medication yema chronic diseases because it affects mostly pensioners, who will be only waiting for the Lord’s time,” said Garadhi.
Linda Gwapedza (59) said she has two chronic conditions, which she did not want to disclose although she has been surviving with these for the past 30 years. However, she advised other patients to take their medication as advised by the medical practitioners.
Another diabetic patient, Farai Chikerema (30), said he started experiencing minor symptoms, which he did not take seriously until he was advised of his condition five years ago.
“Ndakabatwa sugar five years ago, asi handina kumbozvitora serious kusvika yava kundinetsa. Ndakangotevedzera zvandaiudzwa nema Doctors apa haichandinetsa ndingangoti handisisina sugar but food yandakanzi ndidye ndiyo yandichiri kungodya,” said Chikerema.
A medical practitioner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said long ago Zimbabwe had cancer machines but had fewer cancer patients. These days the situation is now opposite and it needed urgent attention.
He added that Africans do not prefer to be screened for cancer and most of them they believe in traditional ways of treating most cancer conditions.
Most adults above 60 years in Zimbabwe report having at least one chronic disease and therefore have to adjust to the daily lifestyle changes and challenges that come with chronic illnesses. Others have two or more chronic diseases.
A total of 64 207 non HIV/AIDS related cases of different chronic diseases were recorded by Ministry of Health and Child Care so far this 2022 in Mashonaland West, by year end the overall figure is more likely to be less than 135 185, which was recorded in this province in last year.
In Zimbabwe, there is an ever-increasing number of people succumbing to various cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions.
