29 Aug 2022

A convoy of volunteers on pink scooters and vehicles, have embarked on a campaign dubbed The Big Journey to spread awareness of breast cancer and conduct free breast screening across the country. 

The team led by Journey of Hope Botswana left Gaborone on Friday and will make clinic stops in Palapye, Letlhakane, Orapa and Greater Francistown. 

Speaking during the send-off ceremony on Friday, Journey of Hope Botswana coordinator, Ms Onica Lekuntwane said breast cancer was one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths amongst women in the country yet it was one of the easiest cancers to identify. 

“This is because the signs are usually visible as changes to the shape, size and colour of one’s affected breast can be recognised easily,” she said. 

Ms Lekuntwane said it was for this reason that the Big Journey campaign was created and was in its 10^th year running. 

She said during the campaign, a team of volunteers which included doctors and nurses would visit identified clinics around the country to give awareness talks, demonstrate the self-breast examination technique and conduct breast screening. 

“We will also be travelling with a mobile mammography truck sponsored by Medlane Healthcare, the first of its kind in Botswana, which will assist with detecting breast cancer,” she said. 

She said since breast cancer was a time-sensitive disease, screening and receiving results in a short period of time could make a big difference in how soon one got access to treatment, hence her excitement at receiving the mobile mammography truck. 

Ms Lekuntwane further said through a partnership with First Capital Bank, 100 free mammograms would be availed to patients who were in need of the service but did not have medical aid. 

“This is a big deal, as screening through mammography is not cheap, and patients sometimes find themselves on waiting lists to receive the service,” she said. 

She said they had also joined forces with the National Aids and Health Promotion Agency (NAPHA) to screen and report findings that would be recorded on the national database and inform future intervention in cancer care and control in the country. 

For her part, Medlane Healthcare, Superintendent Dr Noorain Lottering said breast cancer awareness was a topic close to their hearts as a medical facility. 

“We have identified that the country’s population is widely dispersed and not a lot of women have the means to travel all the way to Gaborone to access mammography services. That is the reason why so many women receive treatment at a late stage,” she said. 

Dr Lottering said it was for this reason that they partnered with Journey of Hope Botswana by sponsoring them with a mobile mammography truck. 

“At the end of the campaign, we hope to have helped not only women but families as a whole,” she said. 

She encouraged men to visit the identified clinics since breast cancer also affected males.

“Early detection and effective treatment are critical to reducing breast cancer deaths. 

Together, we can end breast cancer by supporting those in need today, while tirelessly searching for tomorrow’s cures,” she said. Ends