SOUTH AFRICA— Vedanta Zinc International (VZI), the world’s largest zinc mining company, has committed to supporting the Northern Cape Department of Health through a US$0.75million state of the art oncology chemotherapy unit at the Dr. Van Niekerk Hospital in Springbok.

VZI announced it would partner with Icon Oncology Holdings to execute the project.

The Oncology Chemotherapy unit is also in partnership with the Northern Cape Provincial Government in Springbok, the administrative capital of the Namakwa District.

The establishment of this oncology unit to serve the Namakwa District is one of VZI’s largest corporate social investments (CSI) to ensure its communities have access to the necessary healthcare.

According to VZI, the project is planned to take eight months and will take place in two phases, i.e., phase one will involve the construction, and phase two will involve accreditation and inauguration of the unit.

Pushpender Singla, VZI executive director, and chief financial officer said, “This project is in line with our journey to transforming our communities by positively impacting 100% of our communities through health-, social-, environment-, education- and economic outcomes.”

Singla noted that to ensure the sustainability of the oncology chemotherapy unit, VZI and the Department of Health would sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the complete handover of the unit once its establishment has been completed.

The Northern Cape premier, Zamani Saul, shared his support and enthusiasm for the project and said that the Northern Cape Provincial Government welcomed the investment into the Namakwa District that will ensure our people of Namakwa have immediate access to chemotherapy.

“We want to thank VZI for partnering with us, following through with their commitment, and taking our communities on their growth journey,” added Saul.

The Northern Cape MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, stated that The Department of Health welcomed the generous contribution from VZI of the oncology unit at Dr. Van Niekerk Hospital in Springbok.

Lekwene reiterated that the unit came at a critical point where oncology cases were increasing in the Northern Cape and the DoH was certainly pleased since the unit would reduce the referrals to Kimberley from the entire western half of our province.

VZI in a media statement said it believes that it can positively impact and contribute to the realization of integrated and inclusive development of the country.

Additionally, the sustainable development of the business is dependent on long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with all stakeholders, especially the communities impacted by its mining activities.

VZI also reiterated that partnerships with government, corporates, civil society, and community institutions offer a strong multiplier for complementing efforts, and resources and building sustainable solutions.

South Africa poorest bearing the biggest brunt in the war against cancer

The International Journal on Cancer notes that in 2020, there were 108 168 new cancer cases in South Africa, bringing the risk of developing cancer before the age of 75 years to 20.7% whereby 23.6 % male and 18.7% female.

Unfortunately, Cancer mortality in South African rural areas is due to the late presentation of the disease, the presence of comorbid diseases including HIV, and limited access to early detection and treatment services.

The journal also reports that South Africa’s cancer care services are currently limited by poorly developed care pathways; inequitable distribution of care, shortages of the specialized workforce, old, poorly functioning, non-serviced equipment, lack of standardized budgets within and between provinces, cancer registries lack resources and poor implementation of existing skills and programs.

The referral system is not fully functional due to either an inadequate number or a lack of skilled health professionals in cancer management at district, provincial, and central levels, resulting in centralized or urbanized cancer services.

Moreover, cancer care services exist primarily in located in urban areas, and cancer services in primary care facilities, and rural areas are generally underdeveloped. 

Consequently, they lack the necessary infrastructure, resources, and expertise to provide quality, safe and accessible radiotherapy, chemotherapy, palliative care services, and surgical cancer services.

The journal contends that interdisciplinary planning is necessary to commercialize new diagnostic, surgical, radiotherapy, and pharmaceutical technologies that can diagnose and treat cancer at an early stage.

At the same time, efficient and cost-effective treatment can leverage the maximum out of the current resources.

Moreover, Public-private partnerships must also be explored to take advantage of better infrastructural capacity in the private sector.

Moreso, a national strategic cancer control plan should be developed by all stakeholders to ensure the development of legislative (e.g., alcohol, sugar, smoking), educational (e.g., smoking, diet, exercise), and prophylactic (e.g., HBV/HPV vaccination) programs.

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