Hundreds screened for cancer in Pmb
Hundreds of people have taken part in a mass cancer screening campaign in Pietermaritzburg.
The screening took place at Grey's Hospital on Saturday and was hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Health Department.
The focus was on testing for cervical cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.
Charles Donelly, 64, was among those who were screened.
"I came here and I found it very interesting," he says, "The doctor was very good with me. He explained everything about prostate cancer to me. It is very scary but it is better to know your status".
Health Portfolio Comittee Chairperson Dr Yusuf Bhamjee says it is easier to treat cancer if it's detected early,
"If this testing programme is a success, it will be a tremendous advantage to us and improve the general quality of life in people who are found to have cancer in the early stages," he says, "there will also be less pressure on the oncology sector".
The mass screening took place ahead of the upcoming launch of the National Cancer Awareness Campaign, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address.