Archive for May, 2010
May 31st, 2010
After a three month long UK residency, the last of the 27 Swallows artists returned to Port Elizabeth on Monday, May 31. Despite delays due to volcanic ash clouds, the entire group has returned to the Friendly city revived and ready to spread their knowledge to the people of the Eastern Cape.
“The residency was a huge success,” says interim board chair of Isiseko Senkonjane (the Swallows Foundation), Peter Stark. Twenty seven Eastern Cape artists jetted off to the UK on March 10 for a month long residency programme aimed at exposing the people of North East England to the culture of music, film, dance and theatre in South Africa and particularly the Eastern Cape.
The 27 artists have all been working with the Swallows Partnership through Port Elizabeth’s Isiseko Senkonjane which is led by director Peggy ka Calata and interim board chair, Peter Stark. Stark comes from the North East of England and has been passionately involved in South African arts for many years.
“One of the most important objectives of the residency was to do workshops and training in schools and communities in NE England to showcase the South African culture,” says Stark.
The group certainly achieved its objectives, conducting over 75 workshops with 21 schools and 12 community groups during the residency. “There were over 3500 participants in these workshops,” says Peggy ka Calata.
The artists also put on 26 performances, reaching over 28,000 people in theatres and community centres throughout the North East of England – they even conducted a “Diski Dance” class for a group of supporters at a football stadium.
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May 28th, 2010
Check out the following events on this weekend in Port Elizabeth:
Friday 28 May 2010:
Neil Diamond – Hot August Night Tribute
Classy Crooners Reunite for Encore!
Kurt Schoonraad
Saturday 29 May 2010:
Super 14 kicks off Boardwalk’s big screen
Friends of the Earth
R10 Party at ESCOBAR
Alban Dunford at Glendore Arms Country Pub
The Journal Workshop
A great weekend to you all and enjoy the rugby tomorrow afternoon!
May 27th, 2010
The Tourism Industry Association of Nelson Mandela Bay (TIA) is a voluntary association of tourism stakeholders speaking with ‘one voice’ for the tourism industry in Nelson Mandela Bay. TIA is a virtual association with no physical structure and does not employ or seek to employ any salaried staff. In this regard the services rendered by the elected Executive Committee (EXCO) are voluntary. EXCO meetings are held at any suitable venue by mutual agreement. TIA does not get involved with the daily operations of any tourism organization or tourism trade association and does not intend to duplicate any services rendered by such organization or association. TIA assists with strategic intervention when by mutual agreement the industry requires lobbying or advocacy at the highest level on key issues impacting negatively on tourism growth and development.
TIA strives to engage with captains of industry, political leaders, innovators, development agencies, institutions of higher learning etc, and individuals who are acknowledged to be experts in different disciplines and professions. The EXCO are driven by passion and commitment to ensure that Nelson Mandela Bay becomes a preferred tourism destination in South Africa. As an advocate for all companies with an interest in tourism, TIA will work with government, industry and community stakeholders to boost investment, employment and promotional opportunities throughout the metropolitan city.
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May 27th, 2010
According to statistics, one in seven South African women will get cancer during their lives. However, cervical cancer, which affects the most women in South Africa, is preventable.
Women in Mdantsane and its surrounds are encouraged to go for free cervical screening at clinics where the Female Cancer Programme offers its services.
The Female Cancer Programme is a Dutch NGO working in Mdantsane, just outside East London, in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Health. The organisation offers free cervical screening using a method called Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA), which offers immediate results. The Female Cancer Programme is supported by Mrs Thobeka KaMadiba-Zuma, spouse to President Jacob Zuma who commented on the programme saying, “I hope that this initiative will serve as a forerunner to the initiation of such projects in other areas of our country; especially the poorer regions where access to public health care is limited.”
The cryo gun delivers nitrous oxide to the cervix to freeze the affected cells.
Mdantsane local, Sese Nontembeko, accompanied her neighbour to the clinic for a free screening was very grateful for the service. “I came in for screening a few weeks ago and fortunately I am cancer-free. I plan to encourage everyone in my community and also my colleagues to come for a screening.”
The Female Cancer Programme also offers immediate treatment for women who test positive for pre-cancerous cells. Receiving screening and the preventative treatment, called cryotherapy, takes between 20-30 minutes.
This all-in-one service removes the need for time-consuming referrals to colposcopy clinics, but only if there are no other gynaecological complaints. “This screening and treatment combination is perfect for many areas of South Africa, especially considering the major backlog of government lab work and our high cervical cancer rate,” says Lisa Aspeling who works as the national liaison officer for the Female Cancer Programme. “Other African and developing countries have enjoyed incredible success using these methods and we will be working with CANSA to persuade the health department to implement these methods nationally, which will result in long-term financial savings for government and saving more women’s lives.”
The nursing team of the Female Cancer Programme
“Many women worry that cervical cancer is genetic,” says Sandy Ferreira, the programme manager for the Female Cancer Programme, “But in reality, it is highly preventable through certain lifestyle changes, a vaccine and a regular simple screening procedure which can help detect it early on.”
There is a strong link between cervical cancer and early onset of sexual activity and multiple sexual partners. “This means that if women aren’t educated and don’t go for screening, we can expect more cases of cervical cancer and in younger women too,” says Ms Aspeling.
Government health facilities offer free screenings for women aged 30, 40 and 50, but according to statistics only 22% of women take advantage of this opportunity. Cervical screening can be performed in a number of ways, the most common being the Pap smear. Government facilities are able to perform Pap smears, but there is usually a waiting period of up to 6 months for getting the results. Private facilities can charge between R80 and R650, and results are available within a few days.
“I recommend that women start going for cervical screening a year after becoming sexually active,” says Cape Town gynae-oncologist, Dr Robbert Soeters. He is also the national coordinator of the Female Cancer Programme. “Women should delay becoming sexually active until after their teens, during which time the cervix is especially vulnerable.”
The new HPV vaccine came onto the market in 2009 and is the latest tool in the fight against cervical cancer. The vaccine can be administered to pre-pubescent girls and women up to the age of 26, if they are not already sexually active, but it is only effective for a maximum period of 5 years.
Alongside its screening programme, the Female Cancer Programme also creates awareness amongst women about preventing cervical cancer through door-to-door visits with pamphlets, through radio interviews as well as through broadcasting their 24-minute Xhosa edutainment film.
The following Eastern Cape clinics offer VIA and cryotherapy: Nontyatyambo Community Health Centre, Duncan Village Day Hospital, Cloete Joubert Hospital in Barkley East, Mooiplaas, Zwelitsha, Empilweni, NU 17, Mpongo, Dimbaza, Chris Hani, Beacon Bay and Central.
One of the Female Cancer Programme’s objectives is to empower local government and other organisations to begin offering these services to the public themselves. Health personnel from the Youth Development Institute of South Africa will be trained in these procedures, as well as nursing students from the Life College of Learning.
Media Release for The Female Cancer Programme
Contact: Lisa Aspeling (021 763 4434 / 072 092 3575 / lisa.aspeling@gmail.com)
Sandy Ferreira (082 454 2833 / sandyf@mweb.co.za)
May 27th, 2010
It is Kick Off 2010 at The HOP to be held on 5th June at the German Club in Lorraine. You’ve been there, done that and probably have the T-shirt? Wear it and show support for your team!
Dance to a nostalgic selection of 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s music provided by Express featuring Geoff Good and Gene Smith. Also appearing are Bishop, Peter Ross of the Sapphires, together with Gene Smith, reviving
Cliff and the Shadows and well known Port Elizabeth musician, Deon le Roux.
The music “Kicks Off” at 7:30pm for only R40 per person. Discount price for table bookings of 10 or more. Lucky draws with prizes to be won.
Bring your own snacks or meat to braai on the fires provided. Meals available from the restaurant as well.
For any further information call (041) 3672791 / 0825677404 or visit the website www.thehop.co.za
