Chairperson
Dr Ntokozo Ndlovu
Qualifications: Master of Medical Science Degree in Clinical Epidemiology (MMed Sci: Clin Epi), University of Newcastle, Australia, 2002. Master of Medicine Degree in Radiotherapy and Oncology (MMed Rad & Onco), University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, 1993. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Degrees with Honours in Biochemistry (MB ChB), University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, 1985.
Dr Ntokozo Ndlovu is the Chairperson of the Department of Oncology in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS). She is a Clinical/Radiation Oncologist by profession and a Clinical Epidemiologist/Cancer Researcher. She was Course Coordinator of the Master of Medicine Degree in Radiotherapy and Oncology (MMed Rad & Onco) for 25 years till July 2020. She is also the Chairperson of the Division of Radiotherapy and Oncology - Radiotherapy Centre - Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Harare, Zimbabwe where she conducts clinical practice and clinical teaching. She is responsible for the administrative running of the centre that serves as the tertiary referral centre for the treatment of cancer covering most of the country. She contributed to the rehabilitation of the radiotherapy treatment and clinical teaching facilities at Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo. The refurbishment of these units saw the introduction of modern treatment techniques in the country coupled with the necessary staff training to achieve that.
In cancer research, she has a special interest in areas relevant to improving the lives and treatment of people with cancer in Zimbabwe and the region, to include HIV and cancer, equity/access to cancer treatment and capacity building in cancer management. She is the Chairperson of the Non-communicable Diseases Research Group in the FMHS and the Cancer Research Sub-Group thereof. Dr. Ndlovu is also the International Vice Chairperson for the Solid Tumour Working Group for the AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC), National Cancer Institute, USA and an International Activities Subcommittee member. She has engaged in protocol development, served as Principal Investigator and Protocol Chair for some AMC African studies. As research supervisor, she has mentored international and local young researchers out of interest in developing cancer researchers and institutional research capacity.
As part of work done in the African region, she was the Project Scientific Consultant of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regional Radiotherapy Project for 3 successive terms (2008- 2019) This entailed working with IAEA Technical Officers and regional national project coordinators of the IAEA Member States, to identifying gaps and make recommendations of solutions to radiotherapy treatment and management problems common to African Member States. She was the elected President of the African Radiation Oncology Group (AFROG) from 2009 - 2013. She is a member of the African Cancer Coalition a regional body that is harmonizing international cancer treatment guidelines (NCCN) to be suitable for use in the African continent in collaboration with the American Cancer Society. The Coalition is also responsible for collaboration with Chemo-Safe to promote the safe handling and administration of chemotherapy drugs in the region.
Nationally, she contributed towards the development of the National Cancer Prevention and Control Strategy, as the Chairperson of the National Coalition for Cancer Committee responsible for the strategy development in 2012 and led the subcommittee on Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment for the same. She is the Chairperson of the Technical Working Group for the revision of Oncology in Zimbabwe National Cancer Treatment Guidelines. As a member of the National Palliative Care Integration Taskforce, she contributed to the Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Technical Working Group thereof and is a committee member of the Palliative Care National Advisory Steering Committee.
As Vice Chairperson and Member of the Executive Committee for the National Cancer Registry Advisory Committee, she serves in the editorial board for the Pattern of Cancer in Zimbabwe -National Cancer Registry Annual Reports that provide the national statistics on cancer incidence and mortality. This registry is one of the few African cancer registries recognized internationally. As Board chairperson of the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe (2010 to 2019), she was responsible for overseeing the mandate to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation nationally.
