Health promotion officer at Khayelitsha Community Centre, Lungiswa Tiwane, speaks about cancer.
To mark Mother’s Day, Kuyasa library in partnership with various stakeholders empowered women with information about breast and cervical cancer.
While Mother’s Day was on Sunday May 12, the three-hour event at the library was hosted on Monday and also gave information about testicular cancer to those men who attended.
Health promotion officer at Khayelitsha Community Centre, Lungiswa Tiwane, said they informed men about what they needed to look out for and when they must visit a clinic, such as if they find an unusual lump.
She said they also showed women how to conduct a self-breast examination at home. They were told to be aware of any changes and abnormalities in the breast.
Ms Tiwane said their key message was to encourage women to conduct monthly breast examinations, go for regular pap smears and to know their bodies better.
“If you are a woman at the ages of 30, 40, 50 you are encouraged to go for a pap smear. This is a ten-year interval.
“We also showed them when your cervix is healthy and when it is not. We informed them about symptoms of cervical cancer and we showed them how a pap smear is done and dispelled any misconceptions about pap smears.
“We want women to take care of their health and well-being and ensure that they go for examinations.”
Attendee, Nobonke Nophozolo, said she had learnt a lot from the event and did not anticipate that such important health matters were going to be talked about.
The 50-year-old said at times the information at the clinic is not explained properly because the nurses are working under pressure.
Acting principal librarian, Vuyokazi Rani-Njambatwa, said they felt that they needed to celebrate Mother’s Day differently by empowering women with crucial health information.
Ms Njambatwa said the day provided women with a platform to ask any questions related to their health and also informed them about the services that the library offers them.