Rural women of the Sedibeng village, outside Kuruman, have had a rare opportunity to access crucial healthcare tests.
Launched in 2012 by Dr Tshego Gopane, the initiative allows hundreds of women to get cervical screening.
A rare opportunity for rural women to get the all-important pap smear. Dr Gopane says she started the campaign to help increase awareness about cervical cancer in rural areas.
“What we have realised was that although services are available, because we do not do a lot of advocacy, they do not understand one from the procedure point of view to there were lot of myths that they painful, they going to fall pregnant, there were lot of myths we had to dispel,” says Dr Gopane.
Thirty three-year-old Pinkie Nero took her first Pap smear test on Sunday. Nero says the test was easier than she’d thought.
“People will mislead you telling you that it is painful and so on. I had to resolve to put my fears away and I should come for the test, as they have tested themselves,” says Nero.
Two hundred and eighty five women have been screen since October. 25 of who were found to have cervical pathologies.
Results which Dr. Gopane says prove the importance of cervical screenings.
“This project was born out of a need to actually start doing the right thing in terms of preventative health. Screen people, doing a lot of advocacy, and hopefully prevent mortally and mobility in the long run,” says Dr Gopane.
R19.2-million has been pumped into the project by the JTG Trust Fund.
