Shavathon 2018 – CANSA

SAFMH Calls On Government To Show Commit To Mental Health Care

Every year the 3rd of December is commemorated as International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). As part of the Disability Month activities that have been taking place over the past few weeks, Government has been drawing attention to the fact that this year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Release of the White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy and the 10th Anniversary of the Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Although the fact that these policies have been part of the South African disability sector for many years now is indeed something to be celebrated, the SA Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) feels it is important to acknowledge all the ways that these and other policies, like the Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Action Plan (MHPF), are not being implemented, and are currently failing persons with mental disabilities as a result.

On IDPD last year, which was declared a day of mourning for those who lost their lives as a result of the Life Esidimeni tragedy, SAFMH and the South African Mental Health Advocacy Movement (SAMHAM), delivered a report regarding the state of Mental Healthcare in Gauteng, specifically focusing on the issues that had unfolded with Life Esidimeni, to the Gauteng Department of Social Development. The aim of the report was to show how a better implementation of the MHPF was needed to improve the services and care offered to mental health care users. In the report, SAFMH made the some of the following recommendations:

  • Mental health services need to be prioritised and developed with an equal level of (high) importance across all provinces in SA, and across rural and urban areas
  • Services and resources at community level should be developed in consultation with mental health care users, their families, NGOs and other key partners to ensure that the development of such services are done in an informed and collaborative way
  • The prioritisation/resourcing/implementation/monitoring of the Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Action Plan at provincial level is essential, and provincial Departments of Health need to be held accountable for failure to do so
  • Savings generated through budget cuts in tertiary Psychiatric Care Facilities (such as what happened with the termination of the Life Esidimeni contract) need to be transferred to support community-based care
  • Government needs to address the widely pervasive shortfalls in resources needed to adequately facilitate deinstitutionalisation policy requirements
  • There is a need for NGOs to become more recognised as key partners in the delivery of mental health services and to be respected and treated as such. Government needs to recognise that without the upscaling of and provision of community-based services SA’s commitment towards deinstitutionalisation will never be realised
  • SA requires more consistent and more comprehensive subsidisation of community-based services, with adequate increases and timely payments of subsidies to ensure continuity in community-based mental health service delivery
  • There is a need for more family empowerment programmes to ensure that MHCUs who return to their homes are able to receive the support they require from their families and those family members are sufficiently equipped with the necessary skills to help them take care of mental health care users within their homes

Not only was there no response to the report or any of its findings or recommendations, but since then the scale of human rights abuses that mental health care users faced has was sadly highlighted in the Ombudsman’s report on Life Esidimeni, which was released two months after the SAFMH report.

Today the number of people known to have lost their lives as a result of the Life Esidimeni tragedy stands at 143, and with the arbitration hearings currently taking place, more disturbing details emerge on a daily basis of the gross neglect and abuse that the patients suffered at the hands of those who were responsible for their care. Despite the severity of these claims, those responsible for the project, such as former MEC Qedani Mahlangu, have been using every method to try an avoid testifying at the hearings.

Celebrating the existence of legislation and policies aimed at improving the lives of those living with mental and physical disabilities, while not prioritising the implementation of these legislations and policies, leads to a system that values the lives of persons with disabilities in word but not indeed.

Government has not been able to ensure that those responsible for the tragic and preventable deaths of Life Esidimeni patients face justice, nor has Government been able to ensure that the MHPF and other important legislation is implemented in a timeous and correct fashion. Until such important things start taking place, IDPD will remain a reminder of the horrific treatment and abuse that vulnerable persons with mental disabilities experienced because of Government’s lack of action.

SAFMH will continue to put pressure on provincial government departments to commit towards developing a plan to implement and monitor the allocation of resources for the successful implementation of the MHPF in all provinces. SAFMH will also be hosting the Movement for Global Mental Health Summit from 8-9 February 2018, which will provide mental health care users with the opportunity to share their experiences and lead the call for improved mental health care services in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

SAFMH calls on Government to prioritise the implementation of legislation like the MHPF and the UNCRPD and to recommit to upholding the rights of persons with mental disabilities.

Statement from the South African Mental Health Advocacy Movement (SAMHAM) on IDPD–

We as mental health care users (MHCUs) have historically been living our lives in silence while decisions have been made about our lives without our participation. Our lives have value and our views and opinions matter, and we can help to create a society where people celebrate diversity. We want to see an end to the complete disregard for our fundamental human rights – when we speak, we demand to be listened to and when decisions are being made that affects us, we demand to be involved in making those decisions. Contrary to common beliefs, we as MHCUs can add value to society and we can achieve recovery to our full potential, provided our rights are respected and protected.

 

FOR ENQUIRIES INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Marthé Kotze – [email protected]

Programme Manager Information & Awareness

SA Federation for Mental Health

011 781 1852

Childhood Cancer in South Africa – CANSA

According to the South African Medical Journal¹ the overall survival rates for childhood cancer in South Africa remain low when compared to international data. Greater awareness of the warning signs of childhood cancer can encourage earlier diagnosis and lead to improved outcomes for all ethnic groups.

Many childhood cancers are treatable with high treatment success rates between 70% and 80% in well-resourced countries, while approximately 80% of children with cancer in Africa die without access to adequate care. Whilst South Africa has an established oncology healthcare service, the infrastructure is overburdened, the cancer awareness in the primary healthcare service is poor, and widespread service delivery challenges exist. A 2014 research paper carried in Stones, David K., et al. entitled “Childhood cancer survival rates in two South African units”, quotes South African overall survival rates at 52.1%. ¹

CANSA’s CEO, Elize Joubert says: “It’s estimated that currently less than half of the children with cancer in South Africa are diagnosed and many of those who are diagnosed are already in the advanced stages of the illness.  Early detection will go a long way in reducing the fatality rate, however this can only be done by creating greater awareness and instilling knowledge in parts of the healthcare system and with the public.”

Cancers in children tend to be different from those found in adults with most of them often occurring in the developing cells such as bone marrow, blood, kidneys and nervous system tissues. According to the recent South African Children’s Cancer Study Group (SACCSG) registry statistics, for 2009 to 2013, the five foremost childhood cancers in South Africa are leukaemia, followed by lymphoma (tumours that begin in the lymph glands), then brain tumours, nephroblastomas, or Wilms tumours – cancer of the kidneys – and then soft tissue sarcomas, which are tumours that begin in the connective tissue. Read more about the types of childhood cancers…

Early Detection is Key

Part of CANSA’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Programme is aimed at educating the public on the early warning signs and in South Africa, the Saint Siluan Warning Signs list is used as per below…

St Siluan Warning Signs Childhood Cancer:

  • S – Seek medical help early for persistent symptoms
  • I – White spot in the eye, new squint, sudden blindness or bulging eyeball
  • L – Lump on the stomach, pelvis, head, arms, legs, testicle or glands
  • U – Unexplained fever present for over two weeks, weight loss, fatigue, pale appearance, easy bruising & bleeding
  • A – Aching bones, joints, back and easy fractures
  • N – Neurological signs, a change in walk, balance or speech, regression, contiguous headaches with/without vomiting & enlarged head

PDF: Childhood Cancer Red Flags Bookmark

The advice given to parents by CANSA should they have any concerns about their child showing symptoms, they need to seek medical help immediately. Children with cancer need to receive the right treatment, preferably in a paediatric oncology unit.

A young cancer Survivor, Thandi* and her mom Jessica*, were being rejected by their community.  Jessica says: “The lack of knowledge and understanding in our village is extreme. The majority still believe that my child is contagious and can harm them.”  CANSA’s TLC Staff in Kimberley stepped in to offer support and information to their community.  (*Names changed to protect privacy)

PPT: Childhood Cancer Awareness | Symptoms | Myths | CANSA TLC Support

PPT: How to Support Your Friend who has Cancer

Support by CANSA TLC

CANSA offers a programme called CANSA Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) that supports not only the diagnosed child or teen, but also the family and loved ones affected by cancer, as well as children who have a parent with cancer.  #CANSAtlc

CANSA embraces a holistic approach to include all aspects of physical, spiritual, psychological and social well-being.

CANSA TLC Offers:

  • support groups
  • prosthetic assistance
  • skills development
  • educational school programmes
  • volunteer training

CANSA TLC Facilities:

Currently, five CANSA TLC facilities for children/teens and parents and families affected by cancer, are available:

Watch video of when CANSA TLC Nicus Lodge was visited by SABC Real Talk with Anele on #MandelaDay 2017:

Do You or Your Child / Teen Need Support?

Parents in need of support are invited to join a TLC Support Group in their area (contact the nearest CANSA Care Centre), or help to establish one if one doesn’t exist. Parents, families, and supporters can also join the ‘CANSA TLC’ Facebook group to connect with others in a similar position.

¹ Stones, David K., et al. “Childhood cancer survival rates in two South African units.” SAMJ: South African Medical Journal 104.7 (2014): 501 – 504.

About CANSA

CANSA offers a unique integrated service to the public and to all people affected by cancer. CANSA is a leading role-player in cancer research (more than R12 million spent annually) and the scientific findings and knowledge gained from our research are used to realign our health programmes, as well as strengthen our watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public.

Our health programmes comprise health and education campaigns; CANSA Care Centres that offer a wide range of care and support services to those affected by cancer; stoma and other clinical support and organisational management; medical equipment hire, as well as a toll-free line to offer information and support.

We also supply patient care and support in the form of 11 CANSA Care Homes in the main metropolitan areas for out-of-town cancer patients; a Wellness Centre based in Polokwane; and CANSA-TLC lodging for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.

For more information contact CANSA:
Visit www.cansa.org.za or contact CANSA toll-free on 0800 22 66 22 or email [email protected] – follow CANSA on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. CANSA offers multi-lingual support on WhatsApp: 0721979305 for English and Afrikaans, and 0718673530 for Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho and Siswati.

CANSA Association – Thanks the People Who Pay It Forward

29 November 2016 – On 5 December the world will celebrate those who give their time and generosity of spirit to those in need. CANSA will be celebrating the many volunteers who are dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of cancer survivors.

“Without our network of about 7 000 trained volunteers we would not be able to deliver holistic care and support required by cancer survivors and their families throughout South Africa,” says CANSA Chief Executive officer Elize Joubert.

International Volunteer Day places a spotlight on these selfless people and the care, patience and compassion they display for people who need it most.

“We cannot express just how much we value the contribution our volunteers make to CANSA,” says Joubert. “As a non-profit organisation, we rely heavily on generosity of others and our volunteers continue to step up to pay it forward.”

CANSA’s volunteer network comprises many people who have been affected by the disease in some way – either they are survivors themselves or know someone who is. Then there are those who simply put their hands up to make a difference.

Sheila Moolman (64), a volunteer for 14 years at the CANSA Durban Care Centre, says she was reluctant to become involved at first as she was not a cancer survivor and didn’t enjoy the limelight. “But for some reason I accepted the challenge of running a cancer support group which required me to stand up and address the members on a regular basis.

“I have witnessed courage, fortitude and serenity in so many who have faced this disease and formed so many wonderful friendships. It fulfills me to witness the interaction between survivors and the support and comfort that they give each other.”

Sharon Fransman responded to an advert in the local newspaper in 2012 calling for volunteers at CANSA Wellington. “I immediately enrolled for the volunteer course and I believe it’s the best decision I ever made,” she says. “Often cancer survivors are just looking for someone who is willing to listen. When you volunteer, you become one of the most important companions on their cancer journey.

CANSA provides its volunteers with training and ensures that they receive the support that they require. “They learn from us and we learn from them,” says Joubert. “More often than not, our relationships with our volunteers result in life-long friendships.”

If you would like to become a CANSA volunteer, you can sign up at your local CANSA Care Centre, or register online http://www.cansa.org.za/become-a-volunteer/ or call toll-free 0800 22 66 22 . “You will find that as a volunteer, you find your life experience broadening in more positive ways that you could have ever imagined,” says Joubert.

End

(For more information, please contact Lucy Balona, Head: Marketing and Communication at CANSA at email [email protected]. Call 011 616 7662 or cell: 082 459 5230. You can visit www.cansa.org.za or call CANSA toll-free 0800 22 66 22 or email:[email protected].)

 

Contact your CANSA CARE Centre to Volunteer

Sign up to become a CANSA Care Volunteer