New mobile unit for CANSA
A R460 000 mobile clinic is set to bolster CANSA’s cancer prevention programme in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
THE South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) has provided a vehicle, converted and kitted as a mobile clinic, which will be used to supplement CANSA’s KwaZulu-Natal cancer-control services.
The mobile unit, valued at R460 000, will enable CANSA to take cancer-screening facilities and services to KZN’s vastly scattered rural population.
Given the high incidence of cervical cancer occurring among black women in South Africa, coupled with a general unawareness among rural women as to how to access, in particular, cancer-screening facilities, CANSA is intent on taking free screening services to women in peri-urban, rural and poor communities.
The organisation only has nine mobile health clinics country-wide, one per province.
“We are grateful for partners such as the South African Muslim Charitable Trust who are partnering in the fight against cancer. With the help of such generous organisations it makes it easier for CANSA to continue its good work in the communities by offering screening to poor resourced areas,” said CANSA board of directors chairman, Bugs Pancha.
SAMCT trustee, Shabir Chohan, said: “We're well aware of the health-care challenges CANSA faces not least of which includes the vital need for more mobile health units to better reach the rural areas of our country. This initiative not only provides cancer-control services but also facilitates community education about cancer awareness and early detection. Given that CANSA is a non-profit organisation, we recognise that securing the necessary resources to give effect to such programmes is no easy task.”
He said it was great to see the vehicle donated to CANSA by Albaraka Bank eight years ago to transport patients to hospital was being used still, and this and the new mobile unit were worthwhile, tangible donations.
“We trust that our humble efforts to assist in improving the health-care capabilities and capacity of CANSA in KZN will contribute towards the organisation's quest to optimally reach, educate and screen the disadvantaged, and impact on the numbers of people succumbing to the ravages of cancer,” said Chohan.'
Lorraine Govender from CANSA said the organisation was very passionate about the services it provided through the mobile unit, which was also used at events and corporate wellness events.
