Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire, operator of the N1N4 highway, has again teamed up with PinkDrive Breast Cancer Initiative and the Department of Health to launch an awareness campaign for breast, testicular and prostate cancer among various communities along the N1N4 route – and the trucks used by PinkDrive enable it all.
Charmaine van Wyk, Bakwena public relations manager, explains the motive for the campaign: “Statistics on breast cancer in particular are a growing concern and this is often due to inadequate education and lack of facilities being available in some communities. The need for early detection is enormous, which is why we are supporting PinkDrive’s message of ‘Early Detection Saves Lives’.”
PinkDrive has educated over 30 000 women, provided over 19 000 self-examinations and has carried out over 4 000 free mammograms.
Following Bakwena’s successful campaign during 2015 in the far west when it covered the areas of Dinokana, Lehurutshe, Zeerust, Groot Marico and Swartruggens, the current Bakwena/PinkDrive campaign was launched in the North West at Majakaneng Clinic this past Monday. It then moved to Bapong Health Clinic and on Friday will be at the Modderspruit Clinic.
The campaign then moves on to Hammanskraal, at Jubilee Gateway Clinic (August 29th), Kekana Gardens (30th), Ramotse Clinic (31st), Temba Clinic (September 1st) and Mandisa Xiceka Clinic on September 2nd.
“The campaign covers extensive education on the various types of cancers, early lump detection and clinical examinations. Caregivers from the community are also invited prior to the start of the campaign to attend the training provided by the PinkDrive nurses, in order to equip them with knowledge of the importance of early detection and to ensure the education is carried far and wide after the campaign. Learners from the high schools in the area are also included in the education around early detection,” says Van Wyk.
PinkDrive has, over the years, used a fleet of trucks to get the message out to women across the country. Two of these are kitted out with specialised equipment for doing mammographic screening. There is also a truck-mounted educational unit that traverses the country along with three educational cars.
