KZN health department unveils new cancer-detecting machines

There are now 47 health care facilities with these machines.

In a statement, the department said one in 40 South African women develop cervical cancer, and up to 3500 women die from this disease each year.

“The function of the Large Loop Excision of the Transformational Zone (LLETZ) machines is to conduct a small surgical procedure on the woman’s cervix. Using electrical current, the LLETZ procedure removes that part of the cervix where the cells are becoming abnormal (dysplastic), which might otherwise develop into cancer,” continued the statement.

Speaking at Hluhluwe Clinic on Friday, September 3, KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane said cervical cancer is treatable when detected early.

“These machines are going to make a big difference in whether we are able to pick up, right at the beginning whether, a woman is susceptible to cervical cancer; and if she is, we are able to remove the cells that need to be removed from the cervix. We are very excited. I’m happy that most of our facilities will be getting these machines,” said the MEC. “We will be checking after six months how these hospitals have been using these machines, and we want to see progress,” she added.

The new machines have been sent to hospitals and community health centres in various areas, including in Port Shepstone, Dundee, Northdene, and Queen Nandi.

“These machines are so revolutionary in treating cervical cancer, and the fact that we are now expanding this service is something that should be commended. The fact that all of (these hospital representatives) are here, and are excited, tells me that we are all going to be really using these machines in the deep rural areas where we need them the most,” concluded Simelane.