CANSA Be Sun Smart Roadshows, which travel from school to school, passed through Happy Days Pre-Primary in Kloof last week.
The roadshows consists of a quick, educational story time with a Be Sun Smart promoter and Ray the Penguin (from the programme’s sponsor, Nivea Sun).
For the last three years, two Durban mothers, Hayleigh Bott and Donna Short, have been working with Nivea Sun through the Be Sun Smart programme to fight cancer in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) support the Be Sun Smart, which is paving the way to reduce lifetime skin cancer risks to pupils with 90 registered schools and roughly 24 000 pupils receiving sun protection and sun safety education.
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in South Africa, and skin cancer rates in South Africa are among the highest in the world.
“Every child should have access to proper sun protection at school. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure during the school years contributes significantly to total lifetime sun exposure,” said Cara Noble, CANSA KZN divisional manager: services delivery.
She said many schoolgrounds lacked adequately shaded areas needed to limit UV exposure.
“During a typical school day, it is not unusual for children to receive a significant amount of sun exposure. Children in elementary school typically have outdoor recess between 10am and 3pm, a time when the sun is especially intense.
“Regardless of age and skin colour, every child should be taught to adopt a complete sun protection regimen. Research shows that reducing childhood exposure to ultraviolet radiation is an important step to minimising lifetime skin cancer risk,” said Noble.
She added that it is vitally important for children to wear sunscreen every day during recess or when they are playing sport. “Parents, caregivers and teachers should have a vested interest in teaching children to form healthy sun safety habits for life, and should also lead by way of example.”
