First Capital Bank donates to breast cancer
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday October 31, 2022 06:00
Addressing a gathering, First Capital Bank head of marketing and communications, Dr Hajra Mahomed-Tajbhai said it was important to recognise those battling with breast cancer across Botswana in this Cancer Awareness Month.
“We are proud to have partnered with the two medical partners, Medlane Healthcare and Village Imaging, who are the first in the country to have Mobile Mammography Units.
With our commitment to invest in and support the communities that we operate in, we found it imperative to make these strategic partnerships so that we can support breast cancer awareness and make the medical services accessible to men and women all around Botswana,” she announced.
Mahomed-Tajbhai further pointed out that the bank found it important to treat those with breast cancer explaining that the bank recognised the plight and sponsored 130 mammogrammes to be administered by Medlane Healthcare and Village Imaging.
She also pointed out that breast cancer was not a death sentence saying that there were many success stories of people whose cancer was detected early.
For her part, Onica Lekuntwane said it was important for both men and women to have breast cancer screening, including ultrasound and mammogramme. She said in August this year they left for Francistown with the aim to check 2500 people for breast cancer, and in the space of four weeks those that had shown signs of abnormalities received their results. She added that those with breast cancer would be starting their treatment soon. She urged the public to regularly Touch, Look and Check their breasts for early detection.
According to 52-year-old Dorcus Medupe, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. She explained that she developed a lump the size of an orange seed but she thought it was nothing and kept postponing seeking medical attention till the lump grew to the size of a mango seed. Even though the lump was still not painful, she finally looked for medical help only to find out that she had breast cancer in a period of five months since seeing it. She underwent eight circles of hormonal therapy.
“Thereafter, I had to continue taking medication for five years. I later did a mammogram a few years later on my left breast and the tests came back negative. In 2020, I was told I am cancer free. One thing I learnt about breast cancer is that everyone is vulnerable including men. To avoid it we need to start eating healthy and reduce processed foods. Resilience is the key. I thank my family members who have been with me throughout,” she said.
Thapelo Letsholo, Village Imaging Operations Manager, expressed that “For all types of cancer, early detection is the best protection. With the funding received from First Capital Bank, we hope to screen women around the country with our mobile unit that houses both a mammography and ultrasound machine, and bring early detection to the communities around Botswana.”
Medlane Healthcare superintendent, Dr. Noorain Lottering, stated that Medlane was passionate about making a difference to the lives of Batswana through both medicine and health education empowerment. She said by taking mammography directly to the people in conjunction with educational sessions they were able to teach Batswana about that disease, detect it early and seek treatment and thus reduce fatalities.