The Lebotlane in Moretele community say the area has recorded a high number of cancer-related deaths that could have been prevented if its members had access to information and education about the disease.
As a result the community has taken upon itself the task of raising funds to set up a cancer treatment and information centre with the assistance of the North West Department of Health. The organiser of the crowdfunding initiative, Mothupi Malebye, said he has lost four loved ones to cancer.
“This occurred after I lost four family members to cancer. In the year 1997, I lost my father due to throat cancer. In 2014, I lost my sister to brain cancer, and then in 2017 I lost another sister to breast cancer. Last year it was a serious blow because I lost yet another sister to blood cancer, and lost my friend also to blood cancer.
“So all this has forced me to work with people from the Department of Health and to also educate people about cancer. Our intention is to build a cancer centre in our area. So that we can save more lives,” Malebye said.
He said they already have doctors conducting free cancer tests in the area. “We have a professional social worker and doctors who are part of us. On Sundays this team visits families who are affected by the deadly disease, and also conducts tests for those who have not been diagnosed with cancer,” he said.
Victoria Chuma, who survived breast cancer, believes information about the disease will save many lives. “This is a very scary disease for one to be diagnosed with since it is a deadly disease. It is important for those diagnosed with it to have support and receive treatment. So I believe a centre in our area, where people can go for testing will really save a lot of lives because prevention is better than cure. I believe it will be better if it is detected quickly than for it to be detected late and a person only gets treatment when the disease is at an advanced stage,” said Chuma.
