Communities roped in to create awareness

By Sandile Dlamini

During the month of August, Bhekuzulu Self Sufficient Project (BSSP) aligned itself with the 2019 Women’s Day theme ‘Balance for Better’.

BSSP conducted mass campaigns, which took place over two days in different communities. On the 21st, a campaign was held at the Wembezi Sports Ground and on the 22nd at Bhekuzulu Community Hall.

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The first day kicked off with a Cancer Awareness Walk starting from Wembezi crossroads at the robots, going via Wembezi Clinic and ending at the stadium where the event took place.

During these two events, a variety of health services were rendered, with the main focus on women’s health through the cervical cancer screening procedure (Pap smear) and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as blood pressure and sugar levels (diabetes).

Other health services provided included, among other things: family planning, HIV/AIDS testing and counselling, PSA for men, and chest X-rays to check for any abnormalities related to TB and early signs of lung cancer. The campaign was a huge success on both days. People turned up in numbers to access the different health services.

“Isenta isilethele isbhedlela emakhaya ethu (the centre has brought a hospital right into our homes),” said one old lady expressing her satisfaction.