Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world and South Africa is no exception with cervical cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in women.
According a 2017 report titled: Distribution of cancer mortality rates by province in SA which was released by the National Institute for Occupational Health, the Western and Northern Cape Provinces have the highest cancer death rates in South Africa.
The Department of Social Development is committed to strengthening families, empowering women, keeping parents alive, preventing diseases and giving children a chance to experience a normal family life.
In its continued effort to preventing diseases to all South Africans – especially those in rural and disadvantaged communities, the Department of Social Development has partnered with PinkDrive over the years to provide information and free cancer screenings to people from disadvantaged communities.
Since inception in 2009, the PinkDrive has provided:
- Mammograms: 16,222
- Clinical Breast Examinations: 133,096
- Women Educated on Breast Health: 396,157
- Breast Check Referrals: 2,673
- Pap Smears: 2,834
- Male Breast Check Education: 6,257
- Male Breast Check Examinations: 2,514
- Male Breast Check Referrals: 12
- PSA Testing: 9,692
- Men Educated on Prostate Cancer: 28,602
- Prostate Cancer Referrals: 24
The Nedbank Foundation has now also joined forces with the Department of Social Development and PinkDrive to provide free cancer-screening services in the communities of Ledig, Mogwase and Moruleng in the North West Province. The screenings will include mammograms, pap smears and clinical breast examinations.
More Balls Than Most (MBTM), an organisation that focuses on promoting awareness about the importance of early detection of prostate and testicular cancer, will also be part of the outreach by providing Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screenings for prostate and testicular cancer.
Initiatives such as this one, said Deputy Minister Mrs Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, assist the Department in fulfilling its mandate. “Cancer is not a death sentence. Early detection helps prolong lives,” she added.
SASSA will also provide its services to the community.
Members of the Media are invited to cover the community outreach programme which will be taking place in the Moses Kotane Municipality between 08:00 and 16:00 scheduled as follows:
Date: 7 November 2018
Venue: Ledig Hospital
Date: 8 November 2018
Venue: Mogwase Hospital
Date: 9 November 2018
Venue: Moruleng Hospital
Media can RSVP to Mr Jaconia Kobue on 063 249 5120 / jaconiak@dsd.gov.za or Mr Justice Malapane on 066 480 6849 / justiced@dsd.gov.za
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
