Health MEC Opens Second Cancer Association of South Africa Lodging Facility

South Africa's twelfth stay-over lodge for cancer patients, and the second of its kind in the Western Cape will this morning be opened by Western Cape Health Minister, Theuns Botha at Tygerberg Hospital. Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) devised the interim home concept, when it was realised that patients had to travel long distances for protracted treatment at the province's tertiary hospitals, and endured great suffering as a result.

The lodging facility on the Tygerberg Hospital premises is a joint venture between CANSA and the hospital. With eight (8) single bedrooms and six (6) double bedrooms, the lodging facility can accommodate twenty (20) patients at a time. The length of stay depends on the patient's treatment regime and meals are based on the patient's condition. Cleaning and catering personnel are contracted by CANSA, but Tygerberg Hospital reimburses CANSA for personnel costs.

Western Cape Health Minister, Theuns Botha, says: "The establishment of this lodging facility for cancer patients' stands testimony to provincial government's partnering with our associates in the health sector, in this case CANSA. The lodging came together because of carers caring for patients."

CANSA's ten (10) interim homes in other provinces are in Bloemfontein (2), North West (2), Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), Johannesburg, Soweto, George, East London and Tswani.