Life Healthcare Foundation
Completed projects
Cervical cancer screening and education
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among South African women,
but can be successfully treated if diagnosed early through a simple PAP smear test.
The Life Healthcare Foundation’s cervical cancer screening project – undertaken
nationally in conjunction with the Department of Health, the Cancer Association
of South Africa (CANSA), and the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) during
2006/07 – exceeded its initial target of screening 10 000 women.
Screenings were performed at selected public sector primary health clinics and other
facilities in all nine provinces over a five month period. Of the 17 500 women screened,
some 25 percent were referred for further investigation, treatment or management.
In addition, Life Healthcare has sponsored 100 000 information leaflets, which were
distributed at the primary health clinics to help raise further awareness of cervical
cancer, to help empower women’s health.
Operation Smile sponsorship
Operation Smile conducts high volume surgical missions for children with facial
deformities, such as cleft lip and palate, tumours etc, throughout the world. Basic
life support (BLS) and advanced paediatric life support (APLS) training is an international
requirement for all healthcare personnel of Operation Smile, and the Life College
of Learning has contributed to training on three missions in Ethiopia; Empangeni
and Swaziland. Over 240 nurses and anaesthesiologists were trained on a pro bono
basis during these surgical missions.
Basic Life Support (BLS) refresher training
It is mandatory for all emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to undergo a
refresher programme every two years. To this end, the Life College of Learning provided
free BLS refresher courses to 159 public sector EMS personnel in 2006/7.
Projects under consideration
A number of other projects are currently under consideration for future implementation.