CANSA at 85 – Working Towards a World without Cancer
We’re so excited and proud – the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is celebrating its 85th Anniversary of fighting cancer – and we could not have done so without your support – thank you!
Today CANSA is a leading role player in cancer research and cancer control, as well as providing education to reduce cancer risk, and care & support to cancer Survivors and loved ones, via our 30 CANSA Care Centres throughout the country.
Increased Service and Support through Decades
Each decade, since its humble beginnings, CANSA has steadily developed a comprehensive service to the public, making a positive difference to thousands of South Africans affected by cancer.
We invite you to take a walk down memory lane and view CANSA’s highlights over the last eight and a half decades, including global achievements in the fight against cancer during this period:
CANSA & Cancer History Slideshow
It’s evident that CANSA has made a widespread impact nationally and internationally in the fight against cancer since it was first established in 1931.
Says CANSA’s CEO, Elize Joubert, “I believe our founders would be proud of what we have achieved and continue to strive for. We have not only built on their legacy, we have also expanded their vision to provide care, education and research.”
CANSA is proud to have Elize at the helm – in November 2015, Elize was announced as the African Continental Winner for Welfare and Civil Society Organisations at the 2015 Africa’s Most Influential Women (MIW) in Business and Government Awards. This followed her winning two awards in July: ‘Country Winner from South Africa’ and ‘SADC South Regional’ for the category ‘Welfare and Civil Society Organisations.’
CANSA – Looking Out for You
Did You Know?
CANSA plays an important role with regards to influencing policy development in order to help reduce cancer risk, and made a significant contribution to the anti-tobacco legislation of 1999, as a member of the Tobacco Action Group, to ban tobacco product advertising and sponsorship activities.
CANSA’s environmental awareness campaign was launched in the early 2000s, taking a stand on environmental issues by actively communicating CANSA’s research-based position statement on cancer and the environment. CANSA promoted correct food labelling on products, especially of trans-fatty acids based on scientific findings. CANSA also called on the public and Government to protect children against harmful chemicals such as BPA in toys and baby bottles.
Taking its advocacy role as cancer ‘Watchdog’ to the next level, CANSA launched the ‘CANSA Seal of Recognition’, awarding products proven to help reduce the cancer risk with ‘Smart Choice’ and ‘SunSmart Choice’ labels to help educate SA consumers.
In 2013, CANSA hosted United Nations (UN) officials, Ministries of Health and leading international decision makers at the 2013 World Cancer Leaders’ Summit (WCLS) in Cape Town, where they came together for the first time in Africa, to discuss the growing global cancer burden.
Recently, CANSA presented the Deputy Minister of Health with a document of support with more than 16 000 signatures to ban the use of sunbeds by children under the age of 18; successfully lobbied for the National Department of Affordable Medicines to provide substantial and quality sunscreen to people with Albinism; as well as for cancer to be declared a registrable disease as part of the National Health Act.
CANSA is currently advocating the amendment of the patent law that will result in more affordable medication for cancer patients.
CANSA continually strives to keep the fight against cancer a top priority with policy makers in SA and participates and drives national cancer advocacy initiatives and services as a member of the Cancer Alliance and as founding member of the South African Non-communicable Diseases Alliance.
CANSA – 2016 & Beyond
CANSA currently offers our support service to 64 300 beneficiaries monthly.
As we move into the future, we’ll ensure that CANSA continues to lead the fight against cancer in SA, with our unique integrated service, enabling research, educating the public and providing support to all people affected by cancer.
As a leading role-player in cancer research (more than R12 million spent annually), the scientific findings and knowledge gained from our research will continue to be used to improve cancer treatment and risk reduction of cancer, realign our health education programmes, as well as strengthen our ‘Watchdog’ role to the greater benefit of the public.
We’ll continue to offer our screening and health education programmes, we aim to keep on informing and educating the public regarding the importance of early detection and how to reduce their risk for cancer. We offer a wide range of care and support services to those patients and families affected by cancer, specifically through our stoma and other clinical support, and medical equipment hire, via our 30 CANSA Care Centres countrywide.
We will also continue to provide patient care and support in the form of 11 CANSA Care Homes in the main metropolitan areas to accommodate out-of-town cancer patients when they receive their cancer treatment, as well as CANSA-TLC lodging for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.
CANSA staff play dress up per decade while celebrating our 85th!
Participate in CANSA 85th Anniversary Fun Facts Quiz
View our enewsletter, Slideshow “CANSA & Cancer History” and Infographic “CANSA History in Brief”, then complete our quiz.
The first 3 participants whose quizzes are correct will receive a special CANSA Hamper as prize.
Winners will receive email confirmation and will be announced on Facebook. Entries close midnight, Friday, 9 September 2016.
One entry per participant is allowed. Judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding selection prize winners. No CANSA Board Member, employee, volunteer, or family member of Board Members, employees / volunteers may participate.
CANSA is committed to the fight against cancer in SA
Are you?
We invite you to get behind CANSA in the fight against cancer by becoming a volunteer at your local CANSA Care Centre or by making a donation to support our service to those affected by cancer.