WATCH: DTIPO WeLive perform to raise lung cancer awareness
Part of the project's research involves getting feedback from communities in their understanding of the causes and effects of the disease.
In an effort to sensitise and raise lung cancer awareness to Bluff residents, health organisations hosted a collaborative Lung Cancer Awareness Day at Bluff Towers on Saturday, 24 August.
Representatives from UKZN’s College of Health Sciences, in conjunction with the Multinational Lung Cancer Control Programme, Bluff Clinic, CANSA Support Group Bluff and DTIPO WeLive, offered their services free of charge.
UKZN lecturer and researcher, Siyabonga Dlamini, said their efforts included eradicating the stigma attached to lung cancer, such as that it is a smoker’s disease. “Eighty per cent of the time, lung cancer is caused by smoking, but mine and toxic chemical workers are also exposed to lung cancer causing risk factors. The fact that there might be a history of cancer in the family is a risk factor as well. People don’t have to feel guilty, because there is a number of risk factors that are associated with lung cancer,” he said.
Part of the project’s research involves getting feedback from communities in their understanding of the causes and effects of the disease and is being piloted in four countries, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and eSwatini.
Siyabonga said lung cancer awareness was not as prevalent as HIV, because the department of health mostly focused on it. He emphasised the importance of early screening and detection. “Over 90 per cent of those diagnosed with lung cancer die during treatment for a number of reasons. The main one is that the suspicion index for this type of cancer is very low.
In our country HIV has been the main focus in terms of reducing mortality, because it is linked to TB. Immediately when a person goes to a health facility with symptoms like coughing for a long period of time, losing weight, TB is usually the first thing looked at, it’s seldomly lung cancer, as it is mostly considered as a last resort when treating TB,” he said.
CANSA representative, Sphe Mabaso, said her organisation offers screenings for all kinds of cancers. “This event is a great platform for us to educate the public about cancer and distribute pamphlets. We also do screenings for people to see the effects of smoking immediately and encourage a healthy lifestyle, because the use of tobacco is the number one cause of lung cancer. It’s a great passion for us to be in the community to offer our services,” she said.
DTIPO We Live roped in the youth with an enthusaistic performance.
Bluff clinic representatives provided lung cancer test referrals, HIV screening and counselling, blood pressure, TB, diabetes and BMI screenings. Complaint protocol pamphlets were also distributed.
To contact eThekwini Health Unit call 031-311-5150, eThekwini Water and Sanitation toll-free call 080-131-3013, eThekwini Air Pollution complaints 031-361-0000 and Engen Refinery toll-free on 080-033-0099.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 876 3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
To receive our free newsletter click here
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
