SOUTH Durban residents are encouraged to get their free lung cancer screening and X-ray’s done at the Austerville Community Hall on August 24.
Services will be provided by the Multinational Lung Cancer Control Programme (MLCCP) under the Cancer and Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Research Unit (CIDERU) from the College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
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Aimed at bringing accessible health services to the community, the drive, which will be held from 09:00, will help with early detection of cancer.
Bongani Mthembu, air quality officer for the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), said he encouraged all residents to take advantage of the screening tests and X-rays as there have been high levels of carcinogens found in the air recently.
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Residents must carry their ID’s for the X-ray drive.
“The status of the air quality in the south Durban area is bad. Air samples were taken in Badulla Drive in Merebank on May 23, using the bucket system, returned in July and indicated a high concentration of benzene.
“After we conducted the tests, we informed the community about what kind of pollutants they are currently exposed to. Benzene is a part of the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) group, which are different kind of pollutants. The most pollutant chemical is benzene, because it is carcinogenic, meaning it causes cancer.
“Benzene is the only chemical gazetted in the South African National Ambient Air Quality Act, and it has standards and limits. It is regulated due to it being carcinogenic.
“It is important for residents to attend the screening initiatives as early detection can save lives,” Mthembu added.
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