Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is currently on average handling up to 7000 histopathology cases of cancer per year.
UTH pathologist Peter Julius has disclosed that these cases include pathological diagnosis of cancer and infection diagnosis.
Peter Julius
Dr. Julius says of these cases some are malignant cancers while others are benign tumor and that some of them are infectious diseases such as ulcers.
In an interview with QTV News on the sidelines of a National Cancer Control Strategic Plan (NCCSP) consultative meeting organized by the Ministry of Health being held in Lusaka today, Dr. Julius says the main challenge that the UTH is however facing in conducting these diagnoses is having fewer pathologists.
Dr. Julius notes that of the 8 pathologists that Zambia has, UTH accounts for only four who handle histopathology cases of cancers.
He says this means that there is a need to increase recruiting personnel in terms of training more pathologists and technicians.
Dr. Julius states this is in addition to improving on infrastructure by constructing more laboratories and equipping them with the necessary apparatuses.