By Sokosi Silvester Banda
Zambia’s fight against cancer remains a matter of life and death for many, with only six oncologists serving more than 20 million people (ATOM, 2025). According to the Zambia Ministry of Health, the country records approximately 15,300 new cancer cases every year, with 9,700 deaths annually. Cervical, prostate, and breast cancer are among the most common types.
In May 2025, the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition organised a workshop in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Zambian Cancer Society (ZCS), Cancer Diseases Hospital, Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority, and other relevant parties. The shortages of cancer doctors, diagnostic equipment, and health facilities that continue to threaten the lives of cancer patients were the central topic of discussion.
According to the Zambia National Cancer Control Programme Strategic Plan of 2022 – 2026, the country only has 6 oncologists because of weak training programmes for oncologists, pathologists, and other related specialists. The plan also revealed that the local programme to train specialists lacks funding, and when doctors qualify, there are only a few posts with low salaries, which discourages many. Of the few young doctors who choose oncology, many eventually leave to work abroad or change specialties.
Cancer survivor Udie Soko expressed concern that patients often travel long distances to seek medical attention, wait prolonged hours in queues, and are sometimes unable to afford the medical costs, causing them to halt treatment. She added that in rural areas, many people die with cancer without even receiving a diagnosis.
In an effort to address these gaps, the Government allocated K626 million for a new nuclear and cancer treatment centre in Ndola Copperbelt Province, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ATOM Coalition to improve access to diagnostics and supply of cancer medicines. But even with all these commitments, the system continues to suffer as screening rates remain low, rural districts still lack treatment centres, and procurement and regulatory blockage delay access to drugs.
Despite these gaps, some individuals and organisations have stepped in to help through philanthropic work, particularly through alleviating the burden of hospital bills or transportation to the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH). For the past 14 years, the Zambian Cancer Society, in conjunction with partners, has taken center stage by donating foodstuffs, warm clothing, education materials, and cleaning supplies to young cancer patients during an event known as the Kids Fun Day on 26th June.
Zambia Cancer Society Communications and Administration Manager, Idah Phiri, stressed that the initiative aims to restore a sense of childhood to young patients enduring the disease and its treatment. Ms. Phiri expressed appreciation to partners like Gatbro International Limited for their long-term support and called on other companies to emulate Gatbro’s commitment
Gatbro International Zambia’s Head of Marketing and Public Relations, Magali Mwila, said their 5-year partnership with the Zambia Cancer Society is not just corporate social responsibility for them, it is “about showing these families that we see them, care for them, and want to support them during these difficult times,” she said.
Caregiver Agness Sakala, whose 3-year-old daughter has stayed in the hospital for 4 months, expressed gratitude for the donation, stressing that it came at the right time when many are struggling with finances.
Hospital Communications Manager Jessica Mwanza confirmed that the initiative has impacted 60 families affected by cancer this year.
Another organisation supporting the initiative is Kayula Childhood Cancer Foundation. Executive Director Kalizya Zimba Kayula explained that their organisation operates as a “Home Away From Home,” a transit home for children undergoing cancer treatment where guardians are allowed too.
“We operate as a home away from home for young cancer patients and their caregivers,” Mrs. Kayula said. “This initiative aims to prevent parents from abandoning their children’s treatment due to the financial burden of traveling back and forth between home and the hospital for chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions.”
She disclosed that the current rented facility in Kamwala hosts up to 12 children and 12 parents at a time, but the foundation is completing a custom-built building near the Cancer Diseases Hospital at a total cost of K7 Million (approximately USD280 000) that will accommodate up to 40 children and 40 parents at a time.
Mrs. Zimba added, “We’re the only institution that actually provides accommodation to suffering children, even though there are quite many organisations that do cancer care…” She urged organisations and individuals to support the project to ensure children complete treatment without any interruptions.
Zambian Philanthropist Remmy Kangwa has been supportive of vulnerable Zambians, including cancer patients, relying heavily on the generosity of his Facebook followers rather than any support from the government or donors. Through him, many Zambians have found hope while battling illness, hunger, and personal challenges. Mr. Kangwa, a Lusaka-based entrepreneur, revealed that he started his humanitarian work six years ago, and he has assisted dozens of individuals facing critical needs, such as urgent medical care, families in need of food, and other challenges.
“If I say that I’m receiving help from the government or donors, I would be lying,” he starts before adding, “everything I do comes from the people who believe in me on social media, and they have been my foundation from day one.”
He admitted that there is a growing number of people reaching out for help, where his personal resources remain limited. “I wish I could help everyone, but it’s just not possible, and it’s one of the hardest parts of this work.”
Even as the doors have opened for collaboration with stakeholders and partners, as shown in its MoU with the ATOM Coalition, structural and regulatory barriers continue to hinder efforts. High registration fees for oncology medicines and lengthy procurement processes have suppressed the timely involvement of NGO’s and philanthropists.
One of the hundreds of patients helped through these efforts is Mary Zulu, a 42-year-old mother from Chongwe district of Lusaka Province who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2023. Mary revealed she had lost all hope until well-wishers, through Mr. Kangwa, raised funds to support her transport and medication. Mary, holding back tears, “Without that help, I would have died at home.” “I never knew it was cancer until one nurse advised me to go for tests at the cancer hospital.”
Another cancer survivor, Queen Tukombe, who was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of six, underwent treatment at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in the Zambian capital, Lusaka. Her parents struggled to afford repeated trips from their rural home to the hospital, but she received support from the Kayula Childhood Cancer Foundation, which kept her at their home, and well-wishers who contributed funds to help her complete her chemotherapy.
She shared with this reporter that the kindness of strangers gave her the strength to keep fighting. “There were days I thought I would not make it, but health personnel and the people who supported my family reminded me that I was not alone,” she recalls emotionally.
Now and in her early twenties, Queen volunteers at the Cancer Hospital in Lusaka with the same foundation that once sheltered her and her mother. She visits young patients to encourage them and sensitize the importance of adhering to medications. “Today, I want to give back that same hope to another child. I survived because someone cared for me.”
The success of events like Kids Fun Day underscores the critical role of corporate support, and individual philanthropists such as Remmy Kangwa highlight the significance of the vital support to families unable to cover hospital bills, food, and transport.
While corporate initiatives reach more patients at once, Kangwa’s work often targets urgent individual needs, bridging gaps where both formal health systems and community programmes fall short.
Over the years, many journalists in the country have taken a hands-on role in connecting vulnerable individuals with help through their daily reporting. Among them is this reporter, who has worked with Mr. Kangwa and other philanthropists, both local and international, to highlight and link people in urgent need to potential funders. Such collaborations have bridged the gap where formal aid systems fall short, bringing relief to families facing critical problems.
On the shortage of specialists, Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) President Dr. Kaumba Roy Tolopu emphasized the urgent need for Zambia to attract more specialists in fields such as oncology, radiology, anesthesiology, and neurosurgery. He warned that, until these gaps are addressed, philanthropic efforts, like those led by Remmy Kangwa and others, will continue to play a crucial role in providing life-saving support to patients who cannot access or afford specialized services.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, said that as they recruit health workers this year, they will consider recruiting more oncologists also to alleviate the burden.
As Zambia continues to face a severe shortage of oncologists, drugs, and limited cancer treatment facilities, the combined efforts of corporate partners, journalists, and individual philanthropists are providing vital lifelines for patients and families in need.
Initiatives like these are already demonstrating how community-driven action can complement formal health services, offering both hope and critical assistance. These collaborations remain essential as the government works to expand specialist capacity.
In a country with immense healthcare gaps, compassion, solidarity, and proactive giving can truly be the difference between life and death.