Dance for a Cure, is a community-driven and volunteer- based organisation committed to fighting Cervical Cancer to save lives. We can substantially reduce the impact of this cancer by promoting health within all communities in South Africa, through advocacy and the sustainable facilitation of research, prevention, early detection and care.
Vaccinating againts cervical cancer
The invention of a life saving vaccination is enabling children around the world to be vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a virus that leads to cervical cancer, oral cancers and other sexually transmitted diseases. However, in South Africa where the disease is fatally common the high cost of the vaccine is a huge obstacle.
Thousands of South African women die from this preventable disease. Current estimates indicate that every year, in South Africa, 5743 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3027 die from the disease. Dance for a Cure is committed to make a difference.
Dance for a Cure is a Non Profit Organization whose main objective is to raise the awareness of cervical cancer in South Africa and to raise funds to vaccinate children and young women against HPV, test for HPV and raise awareness around the importance of the pap smear, thereby preventing the disease that is known as the silent killer
Summary of Funds Raised
Year
Performance
Amount Raised
Children Vaccinated
March 2007
WITS Theatre
R25,380
Pre vaccine launch and funds raised were given towards research in cervical cancer
November 2008
Pretoria State Theatre
R121,400.00
70 girls for all 3 courses of the vaccine = 210 vaccines
August 2009
Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre
R256,800
130 girls for all three courses of vaccines = 390 vaccines
August 2010
Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre
R605,200
250 girls for all three courses of the vaccine = 750 vaccines
August 2011
Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre
R656,220.00
250 girls for all 3 courses of the vaccine = 750 vaccines
August 2012
Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre
R585,000
200 girls for all three courses of the vaccine = 600 vaccines (some of these programs will be completed in 2013)
August 2013
Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre
R545,000
230 girls for all three courses of the vaccine = 600 vaccines (some of these programs will be completed in 2014)
August 2014
Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre
R592,000
250 girls for all three courses of the vaccine = 750 vaccines (some of these programs will be completed in 2015)
Total
R 3,387,000
3,450 vaccines given
By vaccinating our children, we reduce the pain and suffering experienced by a family that loses a mother or a daughter to cervical cancer. The devastation of a husband who is left widowed and the grief of children left orphaned by this disease, which can be prevented through a vaccine.
Given the nature of the vaccine, that it requires 3 vaccines over the period of 6 months, we have to operate in a closed environment which is evident from our reach reflected in the below table. Our planned activities for next year, over and above our usual activities, are to reach out to the Private Schools to promote a buddy vaccine system. This program will encourage parents to vaccinate their own daughters as well as a girl from an underprivileged school. This will help to raise awareness as well as actively reach a significantly higher number of children outside of utilising the funds we have raised which can reach additional children. When reaching the children for the vaccine, we have a holistic plan to explain how we can test for HPV as well as discuss the importance of pap smears and how you can do them at home for effective and complete protection.
There is wonderful support from Government and we are delighted that they are vaccinating 9 year old girls in underprivileged areas, however, there is a massive gap not being addressed, who have missed the threshold and are also hugely at risk here and now today. All girls 10 and older would still require this vaccine, and we as Dance for a Cure are continuing to address this need.
We believe that a number of initatives could be embarked on from a social media and awareness point of view and we can encourage great participation if we allow some creative input and collaboration all round.
Participation – Chance to make a difference. You too can get involved in all or one of the following options:
Fund a vaccination programme, please see details in the table below for programmes without funding, or you may nominate a school or home to be vaccinated..
