Siyabulela Deliverables
1 August 2006
When I opened the Provincial Legislature in February this year, we noted
that this year would be 50 years since the historic march by 20 0000 women to
the Union Buildings to protest the extension of passes to women. We committed
ourselves to joining the rest of the country in celebrating that historic
milestone for women in the Western Cape. Today is the start of Women's Month -
August 2006.
We celebrate this month and that march, not because of undue sentimentality
or simply to keep alive the memory of struggle, but to rededicate ourselves to
the cause of women. On that day, 9 August 1956, the women entered the struggle
for liberation forcefully, not in support of men, but to lead the campaign
against passes and apartheid, not protected from the harsh consequences of
confronting the apartheid state, but fully prepared to make the sacrifices, and
in doing all of this they ensured that when South Africa was to be free, women
would also be free. They ensured that equality would be for women as well, that
theirs would be part of the democratic voices, and those constitutional rights,
legislative provisions, policy frameworks and implementation programmes would
understand and cater for the needs of 51% of our population.
The combination of stubborn and resistant patterns of patriarchy, traditions
and religious customs, together with capacity constraints which slow down
implementation of programmes that can translate the gains made by and for women
mean that in the last 12 years we have not always been able to make life
better, safer, more prosperous and healthier for women. It is in recognition of
this that the Western Cape Government decided that the best way to celebrate
this 50th Anniversary is to say to women, âSiyabulela! Dankie! Thank you!â but
to say so in ways which will begin to put in place concrete programmes that
will make life better, safer, more prosperous and healthier.
Minister Uys and the Health Department were asked to make their contribution
to women health. They have chosen to focus their attention and resources from
this month onwards until 70% of the women in this province have been screened
for cervical cancer. This cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet it
continues to affect 1 out of 41 women. Every year in South Africa (S.A) 5 000
new cases are reported and 1 500 women die from Cervical Cancer. This is
unforgivable in a province like the Western Cape with a world-class health
capability.
This points to lack of advocacy and prioritisation from our side and a lack
of awareness and care from the side of women. At the end of this campaign both
these sets of weaknesses should be eliminated. Cervical Cancer can be prevented
if detected and treated right at the beginning for a disease that develops over
10 years. But prevention through early detection requires regular pap
smears.
Today the Government is saying to women âIf you are 30 years or older, start
your programme of one pap smear per decade. Go to your clinic. Don't be put off
by anything. If all women do this simple thing once every 10 years, then we'll
reduce cervical cancer by 64, 2%. This is the phenomenal result we'll achieve
through this programme. The programme is free and you don't have to stay
overnight. If the results show abnormal cells, they'll tell you to come for
another pap smear in a year's time. Hopefully, by then, the abnormal cells
would have disappeared, but if not they'll start treating it before it even get
a chance to become cancerous. It's really as simple as that.
I would like to thank the Health Department for having the courage to roll
out the biggest programme on cervical cancer in the province.
Siyabulela!
Enquiries: Shado Twala (Spokesperson)
Tel: (021) 483 5642
Fax: (021) 483 5636
E-mail: stwala@pgwc.gov.za
Web: www.capegateway.gov.za
Issued by: Department of the Premier, Western Cape Provincial
Government
1 August 2006
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)
