Another way that we use to educate women about the cancer disease is that we must be able to educate people so that they get help. I lost my cousin sister through cancer and most of her body parts had been affected, especially the delicate parts like liver, kidney and uterus. So, when you get to that stage where the body parts have been affected, the cervix might be removed but most of the time you remain in pain. Sometimes it is quite possible that doctors can tell you that you will only live for a certain period of time. In English, they say prevention is better than cure and if you do not prevent, you may face a lot of problems because there are many problems which are created by cancer. One can die and leave behind a young family. Cancer does not consider the age of someone – the disease can affect everyone.
If a woman passes away because of cancer, you may see the children struggling and facing a lot of challenges in life. Government is heavily burdened by orphans who are left behind due to parents who die of cancer. It is a disease which is very difficult to treat. I feel very sorry for the children who are being left behind. Let us be united so that we fight cancer and prevent it.
For men, they encounter prostate cancer and there is a stage at which it is removed. But when the disease spreads throughout the body, even if it is removed, there is no significant change which happens. I want to plead with Government to procure machines like what other countries are doing so that they are able to remove the prostate cancer. In most times, men are told that those who are sexually active do not succumb to prostate cancer. Mr. Speaker Sir, let me say that most men are being encouraged to sleep with many women so that they eradicate cancer. That is not true. I know for a fact that women reach menopause but with men, they still crave for sex even if they are older. According to our cultural practices, when women suffer from this disease, they take their niece and give her to the husband so that he continues to enjoy his conjugal rights all in a bid to prevent prostate cancer. Imagine Mr. Speaker, at your age, being given a young woman like the age of your niece and this was a way of trying to prevent prostate cancer.
Our grandparents used to give their nieces to their husbands so that they continue to enjoy sex and prevent prostate cancer. We must teach these things to all the people in our rural areas. I know our laws allow men to enter into polygamous marriages and this decision was taken up after discovering that women would grow old and men would be in need of sex. Get me right, I am not saying that Hon. Members should go and have many wives but I am just stating things as they are. My main point for discussion is for men to know more about prostate cancer and preserve life.
There is one medical doctor that I know who encouraged many Zimbabweans to plant more beetroot because beetroot is preventing men from prostate cancer. It is the biggest herb being used to prevent cancer. You must eat more beetroot. As Members of Parliament, let us go out and encourage men to eat beetroot. It is easy to plant and if you remember Dr. Chavhunduka who was specialised in herbs, he used to help people. When he passed on, it ended there and nothing was done in terms of herbs.
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