The Journey of Hope (JoH) Botswana is hosting its 15th Annual Big Journey tour, a breast cancer awareness and screening initiative. This year's tour predominantly covers villages within the Tswapong districts of Mahalapye and Palapye. The initiative aims to educate communities about breast cancer as a non-communicable disease and make breast screening accessible to underserved areas.
According to Onica Lekuntwane, JoH Public Relations Personnel, there is a real need to educate communities about breast cancer. The NGO has covered many villages throughout Botswana, from Shakawe to Pitsane, Tsabong to Parakarungu. Lekuntwane highlighted that breast cancer is not an infectious disease, but late detection is a challenge due to patients associating the disease with pain, when in fact, the signs of breast cancer are usually painless.
This is the 15th annual Big Journey by an NGO that is 17 years old. The tour was paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lekuntwane stated that as a volunteer-based NGO, they try to accommodate the schedules of their doctors, nurses, riders, and others. They aim to facilitate these trips during August and September to link diagnosed patients to care by October, which is breast cancer awareness month.
The response from villages has been very positive, with both men and women attending in large numbers. People aged over 40 have also been coming in significant numbers, which is a welcome development as these age groups tend to have the highest number of diagnoses. Lekuntwane encouraged everyone to take their breast health into their hands, as breast cancer affects both men and women, with an increase in younger people being diagnosed.
The increase in younger people being diagnosed with breast cancer has been associated with unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyles, and over-consumption of over-processed food. Lekuntwane emphasized that everyone must play a role in taking their breast health into their hands to see a change.
The Big Journey tour is a significant initiative, especially given the rise in lifestyle-related diseases. By providing breast cancer awareness and screenings, JoH Botswana aims to make a positive impact on the communities they serve. The NGO's efforts to educate and screen people in underserved areas are crucial in the fight against breast cancer.
The tour's success relies on the support of volunteers, doctors, nurses, and riders who make it possible. With their combined efforts, JoH Botswana continues to make breast cancer awareness and screenings accessible to those who need it most. As the tour continues, it is essential to recognize the importance of breast cancer awareness and the role everyone can play in taking their breast health into their hands.
Key points
- The 15th annual Big Journey tour by Journey of Hope Botswana aims to educate communities about breast cancer and provide screenings in underserved areas.
- Breast cancer is not an infectious disease, but late detection is a challenge due to patients associating the disease with pain.
- The tour's success relies on the support of volunteers, doctors, nurses, and riders who make breast cancer awareness and screenings accessible to those who need it most.
