Breast screening is now more accessible to women in smaller centres thanks to a mobile mammogram service offered by East London company Radhiant.
And many in the Eastern Cape will now receive free screening thanks to the fledgling organisation being named a beneficiary of the 31st SPAR Women’s Challenge in Gqeberha.
The organisation, which was launched in February last year, offers breast-screening tests to women over 40 years of age at its mobile clinics.
It currently has two trucks in Johannesburg, two in KwaZulu-Natal and one apiece in East London and Nelson Mandela Bay.
Radhiant will receive R50 000 from the mass-participation event, which for three decades has brought women (and the odd man in drag) together for a day of fun.
This year’s edition, which takes place from Pollok Beach on September 21, will see runners loop around the suburb of Summerstrand during springtime for the first time. The event traditionally took place in autumn.
Stats show that breast cancer carries a lifetime risk of one in 27 among South African women, making it one of the most common forms of the disease, and mammograms have become essential for early detection.
Radhiant head radiographer Fatima Davids said the company had approached the retailer for assistance in spreading breast-screening awareness and it came as a surprise when named a beneficiary of the Bay’s Most Beautiful Road Race.
Empowering women was key to SPAR’s CSI strategy, Eastern Cape advertising manager Roseann Shadrach explained.
“Breast cancer is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late.
“One of the reasons is that women are afraid to have a mammogram and, secondly, not always fully educated on the subject.”
SPAR was acutely aware of the physical, mental and emotional impact of the disease on women and their loved ones, she said, and making Radhiant a beneficiary of the Women’s Challenge had been an “educated decision”.
“The donation will assist in its educational, testing and support programmes. We are excited to be a conduit for the provision of this essential service.”
The business was founded by radiologist Dr Anith Chacko, who envisioned serving towns such as Port Alfred, Makhanda, Fort Beaufort and Butterworth where mammogram services were not readily available.
By taking the service to these people, it negates the costly exercise of having to travel to bigger centres to be screened. It is generally subsidised by medical aids, but a cost-effective cash option is available.
In addition, Radhiant provides free testing in rural areas in partnership with government, Davids said. The Department of Health funded a recent outreach programme at Kenton-On-Sea.
The moment the first mobile unit arrived in East London, calls to provide a similar service elsewhere came flooding in. As more organisations came on board, more trucks have been added.
Davids said the retailer’s support could not be more welcome to the screening service, which also reached out to schools and other entities.
“I am so grateful as so many ladies will get free mammograms now. It will change so many lives out there.
“I could cry. It’s so much more than money. It’s the lives we are going to touch.”
Visit www.sparwomensrace.co.za to enter the SPAR Women’s Challenge in Gqeberha.
This is a great initiative 🙌🏽