Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on Wednesday denied bringing in cancer “pills” for the late ANC stalwart Jessie Duarte from Russia, however famous SA would profit enormously if it reached out to different international locations with higher expertise.
“I didn’t bring anything bodily. I didn’t bring any tablets, I am not insane,” stated Sisulu.
She stated, nevertheless, seeing the expertise Russia had, she considered approaching Duarte’s docs to learn how superior her cancer was and if they might “try something else” much like what she noticed.
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Being a cancer survivor herself, a chair at Choc Childhood Cancer Foundation SA and shedding each her brother and husband to the illness, Sisulu stated she was constantly looking for out, particularly for youngsters, what may very well be finished to enhance therapies within the nation.
In an interview with the SABC at Duarte’s funeral, she stated she secured medicine for Duarte whereas on a visit to Russia, however it arrived too late.
“I had gone to Russia at the invitation of the tourism minister. And while I was there, I was interested in their medication, in their medical facilities,” stated an emotional Sisulu.
“I was taken to a medical facility, which impressed me greatly. And I thought, you know, my friend would benefit from this, but it was too late.”
According to an article by The ASCO Post which referenced Globocan, it was estimated virtually 110,000 new circumstances of cancer had been identified in SA in 2020, with over 56,000 cancer-related deaths.
The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) stated it was trying into Sisulu’s reported assertion and fascinating with the minister’s workplace, as it had strict guidelines on the import and export of medicines.
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“It must be noted there are numerous oncology medicines registered by Sahpra and are available in SA for a range of cancers,” Sahpra spokesperson Youven Gounden stated.
“In the event a treating oncologist needs to secure an unregistered medicine for a specific patient, Sahpra does have a mechanisms in place.”
The Cancer Association of SA (Cansa) stated whereas SA handled cancer like different international locations, together with Russia, the one distinction was “Russia had a proton therapy centre which was successfully operating in St Petersburg, and the innovative Hipec treatment was already being used at the Federal State Budget Scientific Research Centre for Radiology”.
“It’s very effective for metastases (cancer that has spread) in the abdominal cavity,” stated Zodwa Sithole, Cansa’s head of advocacy.
“At the Botkin Hospital, they successfully perform operations on the Da Vinci robot.”
While SA doesn’t essentially want a brand new idea to deal with cancer, Cansa strongly believed cancer issues will be addressed by elevated consciousness among the many public.
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