Mobile women’s health unit unveiled
PinkDrive unveiled the design for its new Mobile Women’s Health Unit on Friday, October 11 at their annual gala fundraising event; The Pink Tie Dinner held at Emperors Palace.
It has been a long time goal of the organisation to provide a full women’s health service offering and this unit is the first step in that direction.
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa is fully behind Public Benefit Organisation (PBO), Cause Marketing Fundraisers’ PinkDrive initiative, saying that she commends PinkDrive for committing unwaveringly to providing services in communities in South Africa.
“Their health services are sustainable and patient-friendly. It is good to see how PinkDrive works with governmental health departments and institutions to provide these much needed services to our patients. The Minister of Health has delegated the issues of non-communicable diseases to me and we are prioritising reproductive health issues such as breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer as these are the cancers that have the highest lifetime risk rates in South Africa.
“This unit will help the government to provide services to help detect these cancers in areas that have little access to proper medical healthcare.” says Deputy Minister Ramokgopa.
The Unit will now house a gynaecology area for pap smears and examinations, a reception area for administration and a radiology area that is similar to the Mobile Mammography Unit. The unit is being assembled by MSTSV or Mobile Satellite Technologies Specialised Vehicles, a Cape Town based mobile office construction organisation.
The PinkDrive initiative has been running since 2009 with the first Mobile Breast Check Units. In only four short years, have raised the much needed additional funds and sponsorship for the commissioning of the over R5 million unit.
Noelene Kotschan, Founder and CEO says: “This new addition will be another first in South Africa as we will now be able to address another female cancer – cervical cancer. It is our dream to add to this truck by including services that address other female diseases and concerns such as HIV / Aids, diabetes and hypertension, blood pressure, TB, and general health messaging.
“With this in mind, we would like to call on other organisations that may be involved in these areas of medicine to join us to create a full women’s health service offering. We are excited to begin this new endeavour and get out into communities.”
For more information about PinkDrive visit www.pinkdrive.co.za or e-mail Noelene@pinkdrive.co.za.
