opening of the Helen Joseph Breast Clinic, Johannesburg
15 August 2006
I am delighted to be able to be with you at this important occasion and to
recognise the valuable work you are doing to fight breast cancer and to reduce
its debilitating effects on the health of women in our province.
This event is significant because it is happening in a month in which we are
paying tribute to the women of the land who, 50 years ago rose up and
challenged an unjust system of government that existed then. Among the leaders
of that historic womenâs march to Pretoria was Helen Joseph, a courageous
leader after whom we have named this hospital.
The opening of this specialised breast clinic in this hospital therefore is
a tribute and honour that we in the Department of Health are paying to Helen
Joseph, isithwalandwe, a distinguished leader, community builder and campaigner
for freedom and human rights.
At the outset, I would like to congratulate you for the initiative and
insight you have shown in establishing a state of the art health breast cancer
clinic in our province that will ensure cost effective service delivery and
high quality patient care.
In particular you must be commended for incorporating an outreach service to
primary health care facilities and districts in the development of this centre
of excellence.
This is important because it will ensure that appropriate assessment of
women presenting with breast health concerns is made available throughout the
province. Patient education can also be best achieved through an approach that
incorporates a vibrant community outreach programme.
Breast cancer affects all women, irrespective of their race, religion or
age. Breast cancer is the number one cancer amongst women worldwide and second
most common cancer amongst South African women. It is a serious disease that
can lead to loss of breast organ or even death.
A total of 60 000 new cancer cases including cancer of the breast, cervix,
lung, prostate and others are reported in South Africa annually and 40 percent
of these reports are from Gauteng according to the National Cancer Registry
(NCR). It is estimated that one in 27 women is likely to develop cancer of the
breast in their lifetime and the lifetime risk of developing the cancer of the
cervix is one in 31.
However, if detected early it can be successfully treated. The easiest way
to detect this disease is through regular breast examination which all females
from the menstruating age and above should do.
Young women need to be made especially aware of the disease in preparation
for puberty and they need to be advised and guided with care and consideration
by the elders in the early detection of the disease. In this regard those of
you in the healthcare profession have a particularly important role to
play.
Your guidance is indispensable and I would urge you to remain as active as
possible in spreading information about the disease and how it can be treated
within your communities.
The bottom line is quite clear breast cancer need not be a death sentence.
If detected in the early stages it can be overcome and women doing so can still
look forward to a healthy, enjoyable and long life with those who are near and
dear to them.
In closing, I would like once again to commend you on your efforts to fight
breast cancer within your community. With this initiative we will be able to
reduce waiting times for breast case surgery, train our specialists using the
latest technology and deliver breast cancer services to patients in a
co-coordinated and cost-effective manner.
I would also like to congratulate you for establishing a centre of
excellence that will be second to none anywhere in our province. I thank you
for paying such a fitting tribute to Helen Joseph and the women whose
engagement in the struggle has brought us the democracy we are enjoying
today.
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
15 August 2006
