The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) in KwaZulu-Natal recently celebrated the launch of a new mobile clinic which was generously sponsored by The South African Muslim Charitable Trust. The clinic is worth R460 000 and will be used to service rural and underprivileged communities throughout the province.

Some of the services which will be provided to the communities free of charge include clinical breast examinations, lifestyle risk assessments, Pap Smears and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests which test for the possibility of prostate cancer in men. The clinic will also be used to educate communities about cancer and about lifestyle changes that can be made to reduce their cancer risk.

Throughout the month of October, the mobile clinic has been travelling to communities in and around the Midlands to provide services. Where problems are detected, patients are referred for appropriate treatment. Throughout the process of diagnosis and treatment, they are supported by CANSA staff and volunteers. The Chairperson of CANSA’s Board of Directors, Bugs Pancha, says “We are grateful for partners such as The South African Muslim Charitable Trust who are partnering with CANSA in the fight against cancer.

With the help of such generous organisations, it makes it easier for CANSA to continue their good work in the communities –by offering screening to under-resourced areas.”