SAVING LIVES THROUGH CANCER AWARENESS AND BLOOD DONATION

SAVING LIVES THROUGH CANCER AWARENESS AND BLOOD DONATION

BY DR. FELLENG YENDE

Every month the health sector creates awareness around the different types of cancers and the importance of early detection and treatment. FP&M SETA recognises all these campaigns and as such, in October, we ran our own internal breast cancer awareness campaign. This medical health challenge requires intensive treatment in most cases, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Blood transfusion is also key during treatment, as it is required in some cases.

Supporting blood donation and having our communities understand the importance of voluntarily donating blood will save lives.

Blood donors should always be encouraged and applauded for their contribution for saving lives.

Medical institutions that are focusing on this area, amongst others, include academic hospitals such as Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, and the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, who seem to be making concerted efforts in promoting highly skilled health professionals. These professionals should be acknowledged and supported as they discharge their duties daily.

While we have a Seta entity specifically focusing on health matters, skills development entities as a collective must play a critical role in ensuring that these academic hospitals are fully supported, including providing financial support for the strengthening of their research, development and innovation capacity to be able to offer the best worldwide competitive healthcare.

CANCER AWARENESS AND BLOOD DONATION

Experts say that humans benefit greatly from blood donations, therefore, cancer awareness months should serve as a reminder that families must be vigilant and ensure that annual check-ups are done.

Everyone has the most precious natural resource ofall: blood. Our blood is replaceable, life is not. So let’sroll up our sleeves and save a life. Donate blood.

“It is with this in mind that the FP&M SETA has partnered with the SANBS to host blood donation drives in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Also, FP&M SETA will partner with some academic hospitals to support research, development and innovation, as part of the CSI”.

Leadership should continue to find time to support such initiatives to ensure that our communities at large are not only educated on these matters but learn where and how to find help and receive the best treatment protocols. Individuals and entities that are already supporting can do more, with most of us joining in support of saving lives.

Dr. Felleng Yende is CEO of the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing, FP&M SETA, which facilitates skills development programmes for 13 sub-sectors and regularly hosts blood donation drives.

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