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Noelene Kotschan: Closing the Cancer Care Gap in Soweto South Africa

Noelene Kotschan/bizcommunity.com

Feb 1, 2025, 19:03

Noelene Kotschan: Closing the Cancer Care Gap in Soweto South Africa

Noelene Kotschan, CEO and Founder of PinkDrive, posted on LinkedIn:

“PinkDrive Partner with BD to Mobilise Critical Health Screening to Close the Cancer Care Gap in Soweto South Africa on February 4, 2025.

In commemoration of World Cancer Day (WCD) 2025, PinkDrive a proud member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has partnered with Beckton Dickenson in association with the City of Johannesburg (COJ) to provide free cancer and health screenings in Soweto on February 4, 2025.

World Cancer Day, an initiative led by Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is observed annually on February 4 to raise awareness, improve education, and inspire action at personal, collective, and governmental levels. This global movement seeks to push cancer awareness to the forefront of health and development agendas.

United by Unique: Raising Awareness and Promoting Early Detection.

The 2025 WCD theme, ‘United by Unique,’ underscores the collective responsibility to fight cancer while embracing individuality. This aligns with PinkDrive’s mission to educate communities and encourage early screening, which is crucial for improved treatment outcomes.

‘South Africans must prioritise proactive health measures for a healthier future,’ said Noelene Kotschan, CEO and Founder of PinkDrive. ‘Unfortunately, stigma, limited awareness, and inadequate access to screening often result in late diagnoses. While cancer treatments are increasingly effective, early detection remains the best way to improve survival rates, reduce treatment costs, and enhance outcomes. We are honoured to partner with the City of Johannesburg to expand screening opportunities in the public health sector.’

‘BD is honored to collaborate with PinkDrive in the fight against cancer in South Africa. We firmly believe that through our collective efforts and robust partnerships, we can significantly reduce the impact of cancer on women and men in South Africa. PinkDrive’s invaluable services, including education and awareness, screening, and linkage to care, are crucial in improving outcomes and reducing morbidity and mortality associated with breast, cervical, and prostate cancer. We hereby urge all stakeholders to unite in this imperative battle,’ expressed Ian Wakefield General Manager, BD (Becton Dickinson) South Africa.

‘Cancer is a growing health and socio-economic challenge in South Africa, many cancer deaths are preventable through immunisation, lifestyle changes, early detection, and timely treatment. Our goal is to prevent as many people as possible from succumbing to breast, cervical, prostate, and testicular cancer.’ Concluded Noelene Kotschan.“