The Deputy Minister of Health Gwen Ramokgopa toured the Soweto Hospice on Monday.
The tour was part of Ramokgopa’s commemoration of World Cancer Day that was on Tuesday.
The hospice admits people who are terminally ill including cancer for palliative care.
Before the tour, Ramokgopa sat down with the staff of the hospice to find out their daily duties and needs.
Addressing the hospice staff, Ramokgopa said that the community need to be educated about cancer.
“People in our community need to be empowered and educated about cancer. There are a lot of myths concerning cancer and we need to end them. People don’t talk about cancer because in African tradition it is often believed that it is a form of witchcraft and we need to end the myth,” she said.
Ramokgopa said that cancer does not suddenly appear.
“As health workers in the community, we need to educate people about the symptoms and signs of cancer and encourage people to have check-ups so that cancer can be detected early and treated,” she said.
Ramokgopa emphasised the need to exercise and eat healthy.
“I urge people to plant a fruit tree in their back yards and to eat healthy. Exercise strengthens and stimulates bone production and red blood cells,” she said.
