The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) has donated R120 000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, a registered non-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness, educating the public, and supporting families affected by the disease.
Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations, highlighted the union's commitment to cancer awareness, stating, “As the majority trade union in the retail motor industry representing more than 71 000 members, we encourage all our members to undergo regular cancer screenings.”
This proactive stance underscores the importance of early detection in making significant headway against cancer, particularly prostate cancer, which has alarmingly high mortality rates in South Africa.
Prostate cancer, which affects approximately one in four Black men and one in eight White men, presents a severe public health challenge. Andrew Oberholzer, Chief Executive Officer of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, noted the importance of early detection. “South Africa has the highest prostate cancer death rate in the world. Early detection is key in the fight against any cancer.”
He emphasised that many men are diagnosed only when the cancer has reached an advanced stage, where treatment options may be limited. “There are usually no symptoms in the early stages when prostate cancer is curable,” he warned.
The donation from MISA will help the Foundation expand its outreach efforts. Oberholzer stated, “Thanks to MISA, the Foundation tripled our awareness campaigns last year. This donation will help tremendously to continue with our important task.”
He further pointed out that recent research commissioned by Cancer Alliance in 2021 indicates that prostate cancer is set to be the most common cancer in South Africa by 2030. This data serves as a clarion call for increased awareness and early detection initiatives.
Keyter expressed gratitude to the fourteen teams that participated in the recent Golf Day and to all organisations that sponsored holes at the Kyalami Country Club in Midrand, further fostering community engagement in the fight against prostate cancer.
Saturday Star