Cancer is a major problem for women in Africa: Zuma said
"The women in Africa suffer in many cases
from... the fear and stigma associated with
cancer," he said in a speech prepared for
delivery at the launch of the "Warriors Walk
for Cancer" initiative by his wife Tobeka
Madiba Zuma's foundation.
Zuma said women with cancer often suffered
discrimination in their communities, ostracism
by their partners and painful deaths due to the
disease.
"The walk is to honour a loved one lost to the
disease, to celebrate another who survived
and to support those who continue to fight
against it."
He said governments had to mobilise their
resources to ensure that breast and cervical
cancer were eradicated.
"My wish is to see us all come together to
support and empower each other. I know that
the fight against cancer will succeed if we
work together and make it everybody's
business in our communities."
He encouraged people to take better care of
their health by exercising and not smoking,
consuming alcohol or putting on excess
weight.
"If we do so, we place our lives at risk for the
early onset of these non-communicable
diseases [which are] so largely preventable.
"The citizens need to meet government half
way in its attempt to strengthen preventive
measures."
