Health officials use grannies soccer tournament showdown to drive awareness as it continues to change the tide where cancer is concerned.
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In Jabulani, Soweto the City of Johannesburg’s Department of Health held a cervical and breast cancer awareness campaign and offered free health assessments to event attendees.
The awareness campaign for the elderly group of 60 years and above focussed on screening for breast, cervical and prostate cancer.
Phumzile Mhlambi, Operational Manager for Health Promotion in the city said, “It is a soccer tournament for grannies but we want to reinforce awareness in communities.
Its main purpose is about health services and encouraging this is just to get them out into making sure they are aware of what’s happening in their bodies especially as they get older, they are more vulnerable and at risk of developing cancers.
The city, in region D has 15 clinics in Soweto and uses the month of September to further drive its message on cancer awareness.
Both breast and cervical cancer have been identified as a national priority with increasing incidences occurring by the city and the Cancer Association of SA
“We are trying to say this is real and let’s act now.
“What we have observed as the city is that cervical cancer among black communities is not taken seriously.
“The screenings today will help us pick up abnormal cells which may be cancerous,” she explained.
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Mathapelo Molefe from the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital’s Palliative Care and Oncology Unit added that the occurrence of cancer in women in SA is higher compared to global average, which speaks to the need for education.
She said such campaigns play a crucial role in increasing chances of early treatment and survival.
“This is another opportunity to spread the word and such a partnership saves live through early diagnoses and repaid response once we know what is happening,” she said.
“This is a further step in ensuring that such free health services are accessible at their disposal and learn about how we can support them in their journey and it’s even great that all of this is happening, while doing what they love, and keeping active through the sports.”
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