By Mulalo Luvhimbi
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has urged parents and caregivers to ensure children are fully vaccinated and called on women to undergo regular cervical and breast cancer screening.
Simelane was speaking during the Department of Health’s Isibhedlela Kubantu outreach programme at Sithambi Sportsfield in uPhongolo, Zululand District, where a range of health services were brought closer to communities.
She also used the outreach to mark October as Mental Health Awareness Month, encouraging communities to take mental health seriously and seek help when experiencing emotional or psychological distress.
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Simelane said childhood immunisation coverage had declined significantly, leaving children vulnerable to serious and preventable diseases that can spread within families, schools and communities.
She urged parents and caregivers to check their children’s Road to Health Booklets and ensure that vaccinations are up to date.
Children should receive vaccinations at the recommended ages, including at birth, six, 10 and 14 weeks, nine and 18 months, and at six, nine and 12 years, she said.
Simelane said parents should not be afraid to vaccinate their children, as vaccines used in the public health system are scientifically tested and approved.
Parents who are uncertain about vaccinations should consult healthcare workers, she said.
Simelane said misinformation and practical challenges, including transport difficulties, poverty, long distances and competing household responsibilities, should not prevent children from receiving their vaccinations.
The department is targeting 90% vaccination coverage, she said.
Simelane also urged women to undergo regular screening, saying cervical cancer can be prevented, detected early and treated.
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She said women should begin cervical cancer screening at 25, while women living with HIV should be screened from the time of diagnosis and every three years if the result is normal.
“Women experiencing unusual vaginal bleeding, bleeding after menopause or abnormal discharge must seek medical attention urgently, regardless of when they last underwent screening,” Simelane said.
On breast cancer, she urged women not to wait until pain becomes severe before seeking medical attention.
Women should know their bodies and be alert to warning signs, including a breast lump, changes in breast size or shape, nipple changes, unusual discharge and changes to the skin, she said.
“A vaccinated child is a protected child, and an informed woman is better equipped to protect her health. Let’s ensure that no child is left unprotected and that no woman delays seeking care when early detection can make the difference,” Simelane said.
