Sosh church and CHOC educate residents on health

A healthy lifestyle can contribute to combating many life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.

This was the message from the Adonai Assembly church in Soshanguve block L when they partnered with the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC) to educate residents on the importance of good lifestyle choices on Saturday.

Event organiser Winnie Sibanyoni said the church board came up with a strategy to help its members live a healthy lifestyle because many people were unaware of threats to their health, such as cancer.

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“Cancer can be treated at an early stage if people see the symptoms and signs early and go to the doctor or hospital. This can only be done if one is aware of how cancer starts and how it develops and never takes anything that develops in their body or their children’s body lightly,” said Sibanyoni.

CHOC was established in 1979 by a group of parents in Johannesburg having identified the need to support each other as their children were living with cancer.

The organsation encouraged mothers to look out for the signs of cancer in their children.

According to Edwin Malema, CHOC was later turned into a non-profit organisation which continuously seeks to accommodate individuals who are still living under a dark cloud of cancer with no assistance.

“A parent who has a child with cancer needs to speak to somebody who understands the journey. Cancer can be cured if it is discovered and treated at an early stage,” said Malema.

“Parents should always do a body check on their children. On their abdomen, pelvis, head, neck, limbs, testes and glands. They should also check for prolonged fever that lasts longer than two weeks and headaches that last longer than a week,” said Malema.

Dr Nomsa Nelwando from Adonai Assemby said many people were still not aware of the dangers of cancer.

“Cancer is a problem these days. Most people get diagnosed with cancer and they do not know what to do. We thought as a church, it was important to inform the community on how to be aware of cancer because as a church we must remain healthy so that we can perform better,” said Nelwando.

General surgeon and head of the breast unit at George Mukhari hospital Dikeledi Mokone encouraged women to do regular breast examinations.

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