Justicia Shipena
More than 280 Namibians received free cancer screening on Thursday, the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN).
The screening was done through an ongoing partnership between Annabelle Sparkling Wine and CAN.
Of the 280 screened, a total of 109 women were screened for breast and cervical cancers, while 45 men underwent prostate cancer screening using the PSA test.
This follows an earlier campaign in May that screened 100 women and 27 men. According to CAN, together, the two clinics have provided cancer screenings to over 280 people at no cost.
“This community clinic once again illustrates the importance of ongoing cancer screening campaigns across Namibia,” said Rolf Hansen, CEO of CAN.
“What is even more encouraging is seeing fellow Namibians, especially our men, beginning to understand the importance of screening and choosing to join us in taking charge of their health,” he said.
In January of this year, Hansen called on women to get screened for cervical cancer, as the country marked cervical cancer awareness month.
Hansen said the next paid community clinic will take place in June in Windhoek.
A free outreach clinic is also planned for the end of June at the CAN Erongo Centre in Swakopmund.
Hansen said CAN’s National Cancer Outreach Program will resume in August, with clinics expected to reach more regions across the country.
In 2022 and 2023, the Ministry of Health and Social Services recorded 395 cancer-related deaths in Namibia.
During the same period, a total of 4,876 patients were admitted for various types of cancer across the country.
Globally, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, accounting for around 10 million deaths in 2020, according to the World Health Organisation.
