KZN Health MEC places cervical cancer prevention in spotlight
KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane recently unveiled 16 new machines that help prevent cervical cancer, at the Hluhluwe clinic.
TO curb the number of deaths caused by cervical cancer, KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane recently unveiled 16 new machines that help prevent the disease, at the Hluhluwe clinic.
She said the distribution of these machines is part of a departmental programme to improve public access to testing and treatment facilities.
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Because of the Covid-19 pandemic and national lockdown, fewer patients were coming forward to be screened.
‘Shocking statistics reveal that one in 40 South African women develop cervical cancer, and that up to 3 500 women die from this disease each year.
‘Cervical cancer, the second most common after breast cancer, is caused by the sexually transmitted Human Papilloma Virus,’ said Simelane.
‘The Large Loop Excision of the Transformational Zone (LLETZ) machines enable small surgical procedures to remove abnormal cells from the cervix which might develop into cancer.
‘These abnormal cells can be detected by a pap smear, which is strongly recommended for women aged 30 and above,’ the MEC said. Simelane added that cancer of the cervix has a long pre-cancer phase, which lasts for several years.
‘This provides an opportunity to detect it timeously through pap smears and then treat it with the LLETZ procedure before it progresses to cancer.
‘The new machines have been sent to the following hospitals and community health centres – Mbongolwane, Queen Nandi, eKhombe, Mseleni, KwaCeza, St Mary’s, Port Shepstone, St Apollinaris, EG & Usher, Dundee, Pomeroy CHC, Appelsbosch, Northdene, Grey’s, Othobothini CHC and uMphumulo.
