COVID-19 has dramatically impacted the screening and treatment of non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes as well as communicable diseases such as HIV/Aids and TB.
While the lockdown bought some time to bolster health resources, it is now setting up South Africa for even greater mortality from non-COVID illnesses.
PinkDrive NPC, a significant player in the gender related cancer sector, has joined forces with the national departments of Health (DoH) and Social Development (DSD), to bring critical screening to the Eastern Cape, where health care facilities require support to accommodate these additional screening services during COVID-19. Funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) allows PinkDrive to take their Mobile Women’s Health Unit to provide screening and education for gender related cancers including breast, cervical and prostate cancer as well as HIV/Aids, TB, diabetic screening and Covid-19 screening and testing.
PinkDrive’s Mobile Women´s Health Unit in the form of a 14 ton truck is described as a “Doctor’s Room on Wheels”. The unit boasts a state-of-the-art gynaecology area for pap smears and examinations, a reception area for administration and a radiology area. The unit turns into a Cancer Powerhouse that enables PinkDrive to simultaneously tackle the two most prevalent female cancers – breast and cervical cancer by offering cervical cancer screening, mammograms, clinical breast examinations and for the men, Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer.
- The PinkDrive’s Mobile Women’s Health Unit will be in Despatch today at the Du Preez Street Clinic.
(Issued: PinkDrive)
