CANSA Partnering with Provincial Departments of Health to Fight Cancer
The Cancer Association of South Africa’s (CANSA) Advocacy team regularly lobbies and engages with the Departments of Health and aims to establish partnerships with key National and Provincial stakeholders.
Zodwa Sithole CANSA Head Advocacy
CANSA advocates for the training of Primary Health Professional Care Workers on the top five cancers for men and women prevalent in SA.
This will help with the early detection of cancer in the Primary Health settings and early access to cancer treatment.
The focus is mainly with the Provincial Departments of Health, and our CANSA Service team implement the activities in the provinces.
To date, four Provincial Departments of Health have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CANSA: Northern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga.
Work continues to engage with the remaining provinces.
CANSA collectively develops an implementation plan with activities, the person responsible and the time-frame.
The implementation plan covers the following:
- Improve accessibility of cancer screening services
- Target rural communities and other communities that have limited access to local clinics
- Support partner regarding awareness and cancer screening events
- Training of Health Care Professionals, Traditional Health Practitioners and Outreach Team Leaders on the top five cancers for men and women prevalent in SA
- Implement a CANSA Information and Support Desk at the oncology department to assist cancer patients with information and support services
- Collaborating to promote health awareness
- CANSA representatives attending Non-Communicable Diseases and Palliative Care forums
