MMC for Health and Social Development commends physical activity clubs

Alexandra residents were advised of the risk of contracting breast cancers from cell phones that are kept in bras.

The revelation made at the commemoration of World Cancer Day by NPO Pink Drive corroborates an assertion by the Environmental Health Trust that a cell phone tucked in a bra will emit radiation into the body’s soft fatty tissue risking the development of breast cancer and other diseases.

The warning also to other citizens was made on 4 February at the East Bank hall. The event was by a partnership of the Joburg City Council with NPOs CanSurvive Cancer Support Group, CHOC, Sunflower, More Balls Than Most and, corporates Discovery Health and Virgin Active. The collaboration cum campaign also provided attendees integrated advice and awareness on the benefit of proactive, all-around healthy safe care against cancers in children and adults.

“We want to empower citizens on how to care for their bodies and to act responsibly. The key message is that early detection saves lives, any day wasted is long enough to kill you,” MMC for Health and Social Development Dr Mpho Phalatse said.

Phalatse urged the residents to apply basic self-examination on their bodies to detect possible cancer through pap smear for women, lumps in the breast, nipples, testicles, armpits and blood in urine, skin irritations and back pain in both women and men.

“Seek regular professional advice provided for free at all public clinics to prevent the risk from all forms of cancer,” Phalatse said, in reference to blood, cervical, testicular, prostate, ovarian, skin and colorectum cancers.

She added that Alexandrians were spoiled for choice through the six clinics compared to most areas in the city. “Some of them have been upgraded and increased operational hours in the evening and on weekends to cater for workers and reduce their time away from work.”

Also, the service has been decanted to include care support on specific days and venues particularly to those on chronic medication. “This helps to reduce congestion at clinics.” Phalatse also urged parents to sign consent forms for their 14-year-old school-going daughters to be immunised against the papillomavirus before their sexual debut to protect them from the cancer risk.

She advised that besides genetic predisposition, other cancer triggers were the excessive intake of alcohol, cigarette smoking, carcinogens in some foods and sedentary life that causes obesity. “Regular physical exercise and a good diet should be part of our daily package of tools and skills to averting cancer and other ailments.”

This she said commending and urging the City’s sports and recreation department to initiate more physical training clubs in townships where poverty prevents residents from joining commercial gyms and clubs. This she said, complemented the City’s food resilience programme which provides the indigent, tools, seeds and land for health food production while keeping them physically active. Virgin Active complemented the occasion with aerobic exercises for the residents.

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