{"id":86870,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/86870/?format=json","text_counter":270,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Mr. Kambi","speaker_title":"The Assistant Minister for Medical Services","speaker":{"id":39,"legal_name":"Samuel Kazungu Kambi","slug":"samuel-kambi"},"content":" Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) Yes, I am aware that there is an acute shortage of cancer specialists in the country. To address the problem, the Ministry is pursuing a number of interventions, key among them being the following: (i) a national task force to study and recommend improvements in cancer management was commissioned early this year; (ii) preparation of a National Cancer Policy and a strategic plan is presently at the finalization stage and a draft Cancer Bill is due to be tabled in Parliament after Cabinet approval; (iii) legislation to curb the incidence of cancer has been enacted; in this regard, a comprehensive Tobacco Control Act and the National Alcohol Control Act have now become operational, having been signed into law; (iv) cancer awareness campaigns are ongoing, including a robust HIV prevention programme in place to try and limit HIV associated cancers;"}