The oncology ward at Rob Ferreira Hospital has provided care for 20 968 patients since its inception. These include 7 291 chemotherapy patients, 667 radiotherapy recipients, 254 positron emission tomography scan patients, 10 270 patients on hormone replacement therapy and 250 demised cases.

The oncology unit began providing outpatient services in August 2019 and expanded to include an inpatient ward in July 2021.

On Friday, November 1, the MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, visited the hospital to monitor the healthcare services at the oncology unit as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which was in October.

During this visit, Manzini said they are currently undertaking the installation of magnetic resonance imaging, which commenced on October 28, with the aim of completing all necessary modifications by March.

“To enhance medical care accessibility, the department is presently undertaking an initiative to broaden these essential services through the establishment and addition of a radiation unit, providing radiotherapy services.”

She also inspected the oncology ward, which delivers medical care to cancer patients, and subsequently visited the pharmacy to assess medication availability and stock levels.

Manzini commented on the unit’s significant successes. The unit helps to ease the burden previously faced by thousands of cancer patients who had to travel to Gauteng for medical care. The launch of this ward means patients are no longer travelling long distances to access these services.

The DoH collaborated with Wits University to make this launch possible. “Approximately 300 to 350 patients receive treatment at the unit each month, including 130 patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.”

Manzini urged everyone to utilise healthcare services to maintain their well-being and to detect diseases at an early stage, allowing for appropriate medical care to minimise unnecessary loss of life. “The top 10 cancers that commonly cause age-standardised deaths in the province are breast cancer, prostate cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma, anorectal, cervical, lung, colon, bladder and penile.”