Pretoria - Women have been encouraged to play a proactive role in raising awareness about various forms of breast cancer.
"In order that the fault lines are defined clearly, women all over the world must be proactive in being part of the total value chain of raising awareness and be knowledgeable about the treatment and support options available to them," said KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
Dhlomo's call comes ahead of the provincial roll out of the Breast Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Campaign which aims to encourage women to get screened for breast cancer.
In collaboration with non-profit organisations, Cause Marketing Fundraisers and Sinothandonomusa as well as other political leaders, Dhlomo will on Thursday roll out the breast cancer screening campaign, which also aims increase awareness amongst communities about the disease.
The campaign seeks to create awareness around breast cancer through advocacy and will also provide screening and mammography testing.
Themed "Early detection saves lives ....Access to all"; the campaign's focus will also be on capacitating women to be the architects of their own destinies.
"The aim is to establish an effective breast cancer campaign that translates into sustainable programme of action. 2010 stresses that women need no longer be victims," Dhlomo said.
The campaign will also be rolled out at Uthukela on 21 May, eThekwini on 29 May, Ilembe on 01 June, eMpangeni on 02 June and Zululand on 03 June 2010.
According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), breast cancer is the leading cancer faced by South African women with one in 29 women diagnosed each year with the disease.
If detected and treated in its early stages, there is an excellent chance of full recovery
