Namport, together with the Namport Social Investment Fund (NSIF), once again showed their commitment to fulfil their mandate as a responsible corporate entity, by ploughing back into the community in which they operate.
In celebration of Women’s Month, the Ports Authority joined forces with Dr Jeketera Khumalo, a local Obstetrician and Gynaecologist from Walvis Bay who recently launched a Pap smear campaign. The campaign was aimed at screening women within the Walvis Bay community without access to medical aid, to undergo the test which might be otherwise unaffordable.
Speaking to Dr Jeketera-Khumalo, she said, “Without partners like Namport and other like-minded entities, we as a group of female doctors who volunteered our services free of charge would have not been able to conduct 271 Pap smears on ladies from Walvis Bay”.
Those who are fortunate to afford medical aid might not appreciate how much a single test costs, but more so, this one single test can be the difference between life and death.
Handing over the donation, Namport’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Kanime said, “It is an honour for Namport and (NSIF) to join hands with the doctors to play our role in complementing their commendable efforts”. Namport’s donation will be used to pay for the analysis of the tests which will be carried out at local laboratories.
A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women. The test is done to look for changes in cervical cells before they turn into cancer. If you have cancer, finding it early on gives you the best chance of fighting it. Pap smear screenings are vital for every woman who is sexually active and it is advised that women undergo a Pap smear test at least once every three years.
Namport through NSIF which is the tool the entity uses to reach the social needs of the Namibian community has committed N$2.8 million in the current financial year for different projects. From this committed amount, more than N$1,5 million was directed towards the medical fraternity.
SOURCE: Namport
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