Warriors With A Purpose spoiled Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital’s oncology ward patients
The World Health Organization launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative in 2021 to reduce mortality rates by 2,5% per year by 2040 to save 2,5 million lives.
Warriors With A Purpose, an NGO passionate about cancer patients closed off breast cancer awareness month at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital on October 31.
According to the World Health Organisation’s website, this year’s theme was ‘No one should face breast cancer alone.’
Read more: Netcare Milpark Hospital neurocoach leads support group for fellow breast cancer patients
The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) in 2021 to reduce mortality rates by 2.5% per year by 2040 and save 2.5 million lives through three key pillars of action: health promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive breast cancer management.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated globally every October to create awareness about breast cancer.
Founder of Warriors With A Purpose, Renne Singh said she wanted to do something different for her visit to the academic hospital this year for oncology patients.
“My main aim was to prioritise the patient and survivors’ needs. Today as I created awareness, I also did some education with our warriors in oncology as I believe the underprivileged need one-on-one support and need to be reminded they are not alone in this battle.”
Also read: Charlotte Maxeke Hospital recovers from severe water shortage
Sanitary pads were given to the underprivileged in the oncology ward and the main hospital to give girls and women hope in ending period poverty.
Breast cancer patient, Ida Dilebatso said she has been a patient for a year and had been showing up religiously for her medical treatments.
Breast cancer survivor Thozama Gosa added she had been in remission for 10 years.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I beat it. I want to give other patients hope that they too can beat cancer,” she said.
According to the WHO website, this year’s breast cancer campaign objectives were:
- Raise Awareness and Drive Behaviour Change: Promote advocacy, awareness, and behaviour change communication to increase the uptake of breast cancer screening and early diagnosis, particularly in resource-constrained settings.
- Facilitate Knowledge Sharing and Partnerships: Provide a platform for dissemination of breast cancer information, foster knowledge exchange, and strengthen collaborations and partnerships for breast cancer control
- Support National Adoption of WHO’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative: Encourage countries to adopt and implement the Global Breast Cancer Initiative with a focus on early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive care.
- Promote Patient Support and Address Disparities: Highlight the importance of patient-centred care, including medical, emotional, psychological, and social support through patient navigation systems, while addressing gender and socioeconomic disparities in access to breast cancer care.
Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.
Related article: Water shortage halts surgeries at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital
