An increase in cervical cancer cases has prompted the KwaZulu-Natal Health Department to embark on a mass cancer awareness and screening drive, targeting townships and rural areas in the province.
Close to 3 000 women were part of the cancer screening drive in KwaMashu, north of Durban.
Health officials say they’ve recorded an increase in breast and cervical cancer cases. According to the Cancer Association of South Africa, cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the second most common cancer among South African women.
A 2023 study has shown that only 19% of women in South Africa get screened for cervical cancer every 3 years – compared to the target of 70%.
Screening campaign
In parts of the north of Durban, there has been an increase in the number of breast and cervical cancer cases. That’s according to KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, who led a screening campaign at the Doctor Pixley ka-Isaka-Seme Memorial Hospital in KwaMashu.
The aim was to screen 2 500 women from Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu at the hospital in one day.
Simelane says similar drives will be held in other parts of the province.
“We know if we pick up cervical cancer in the early stages, we are able to treat it. If we are able to pick up breast cancer in the early stages, we are able to treat it. And we see that a lot of women are dying from cancers that shouldn’t be killing them because, if they had been picked up earlier, we would have been able to save them. This is a drive that we are not only implementing in this area. We are going to be going to rural districts as well because we find that the rural communities also have a challenge and the positive numbers are climbing there steadily.”
Whilst this drive has surpassed the expected numbers of women who were screened, the low rate of cancer screening remains a challenge.
Healthcare workers say there are a number of factors – lack of information and misconceptions about testing.
Healthcare worker Bawinile Dlamini says, ” Talks about the lack of knowledge on the importance of testing, but has found that being patient and explaining to patients the importance of testing and early detection has helped, and more of her patients are open to testing and screening.”
Patients welcome the campaign, saying it not only raises public awareness but that it can save lives.
Patient Nomzinyathu Khathu says this was her first time screening and being made aware of cancer. She is very happy she did it, and the process was easy, she says.
Cancer survivor Phiwe Mkhize says, “As a cancer survivor, it’s encouraging to see so many women come out and screen as it’s very important.” She explains that she is a cancer survivor because it was detected early and she received the necessary treatment.
Health officials say they will continue to drive the message that early detection can save lives as the campaign moves to other parts of the province.
