Project Flamingo says that it is rooted in the belief that breast cancer care is a basic human right.

South Africa's public health system simply cannot manage the patient load, which means that many patients are caught in unacceptably long waiting periods for adequate breast cancer treatment.

Surviving breast cancer has a widespread effect on the households and communities in which these women are often the breadwinners, mothers and primary caregivers, says the NPO. 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world and the most diagnosed cancer among women in South Africa — one in eight women globally are at risk of being diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organisation's latest statistics. 

It is documented that over 9 000 new cases are diagnosed annually in South Africa. And despite its prevalence, well over 50% of patients in the public health sector present with late-stage disease, according to the NPO.

This reality, combined with long waiting periods and a lack of infrastructure to cope with patient load nationally, significantly curbs the impact of efforts to provide equitable care. This is resulting in unnecessary loss of life, says Project Flamingo. 

Project Flamingo says that it has, for the past 14 years, met this challenge head-on with catch-up surgeries, compassionate patient support and advocacy programmes, and is doing so again.

An Unprecedented Record Attempt: Five Hospitals, Five Teams, One Vision

On Saturday, 13 July, Project Flamingo's dedicated teams will perform 30 breast cancer surgeries in a single day across five hospitals in Western and Eastern Cape. 

This effort involves:

Five Hospitals

Each hospital will host its dedicated volunteer surgical teams.

Project Flamingo's hospitals include: 

  • Groote Schuur
  • Tygerberg
  • George
  • Cecilia Makiwane (East London), and
  • Livingstone (Gqeberha).

Five Teams

Highly skilled volunteer surgeons and anaesthetists, dedicated theatre nursing staff and Flaminglet medical students will collaborate to deliver top-quality care.

One Vision

A unified goal is to provide timely, life-saving surgical interventions to breast cancer patients.

This record attempt marks a significant milestone in the fight against breast cancer and sets a new benchmark for medical initiatives in South Africa, says Project Flamingo. 

Mandela Day: Stronger Together

The Project Flamingo campaign aims to:

Reduce Waiting Times
By performing 30 surgeries in one day, the project aims to help reduce the backlog of patients waiting for life-saving treatment.

Raise Awareness
The project will highlight the critical issue of breast cancer in South Africa and the importance of early detection and treatment. 

Inspire Action
The NPO will also encourage other organisations and stakeholders to take bold steps in improving cancer care across the country while also doing its bit by training the next generation of doctors in advocacy and cancer care through medical student involvement on the day.

Join Project Flamingo in Making History

The NPO has invited media, supporters and the community to join it in this historic endeavour.

Coverage and support of this event will not only amplify the impact of Project Flamingo's efforts but also inspire hope and action, it concludes.

For more information, visit www.projectflamingo.co.za. You can also follow Project Flamingo on Facebook or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor