April 3, 2008

Female Entrepreneurs Get R95 000 Boost

By Bathandwa Mbola, BuaNews (Tshwane), Pretoria

Three young female entrepreneurs in the hospitality and tourism industries have received a cash injection from the South African Breweries (SAB) Ltd totalling R95 000.

This through a pilot initiative called the Women in Business which was recently unveiled by the company.

The initiative aims at shaping a culture of entrepreneurship among previously disadvantaged women.

Simnikiwe Sondlo of Niki's Oasis in Newtown, Letta Munyai from Lala's Florist and Catering Services in Rockville and Mopane of Maseke's Place in Dube Village both from Soweto received R45 000, R30 000 and R20 000 respectively from SAB.

For the pilot project, nine women - all over the age of 35, and all of whom already have established businesses - were chosen to participate in the initiative which includes training workshops and mentoring.

For a number of years SAB has been aware of a pressing need for such an initiative, said SAB's information officer, Eleni Matsicas.

"The prevalence of women in larger and more established businesses is minimal in South Africa and through this programme we will be providing much needed support to women entrepreneurs in the tourism sector.

"By providing these established entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and mentorship, they will be empowered to let their businesses be elevated to the next level," she said.

The candidates of the programme were put through an intensive 10 week course at the School of Tourism and Hospitality in Johannesburg.

Subjects included legal and regulatory compliance; financial management and in particular costing and pricing; inventory management and marketing.

The participants were then mentored by restaurateurs and successful entrepreneurs within their industry.

Once training and mentoring was completed the women were asked to draw up a business plan, which was then presented to the judges who awarded grants to the top three.

According to Moira Allison, one of the judges, the Women in Business candidates all showed remarkable passion and enthusiasm for their businesses.

"It was a difficult choice. One can see that they are all held in high regard by their customers and we are certain that they will all continue to flourish and grow.

"There is no doubt that this programme has been highly beneficial to them and appreciated."

This year's SAB Women in Business Awards was a pilot programme and focused on candidates in Gauteng.

Based on the success of this year's event, SAB aims to roll out the programme nationally.

"We are exploring a partnership with the Tourism Enterprise Propeller to ensure an effective rollout.

"They have existing ties with SMME's in the tourism sector which will enable us to effectively target those entrepreneurs who would benefit most from SAB's Women in Business initiative," Ms Matsicas explained. -

Anti-breast cancer drug approved <mailto:mohauram@mpg.gov.za>

By Bathandwa Mbola

Johannesburg - South African women diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer will now have access to the life-saving HER2-targeted intravenous (IV) therapy, targeted for patients with early breast cancer.

The good news comes after the Medicines Control Council (MCC) approved the use of the medicine in South Africa.

The approval by the MCC means that this life-saving treatment option can be extended to patients with all stages of HER2-positive early breast cancer, which is one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.

The drug was also approved by the European Commission's in May 2006.

"We are obviously very pleased that we now have approval of the drug for use in women with all stages of the disease," said Dr Devon Moodley Medical Oncologist at the Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg on Thursday.

HER2-positive breast cancer, which affects approximately one in every four women with breast cancer, demands special and immediate attention because the tumours are fast-growing and there is a higher likelihood of a relapse.

According to Dr Moodley HER2-positive tumours are fast-growing and the likelihood of the cancer coming back is greater.

He explained that this was because HER2-positive breast cancer usually responds less favourably to chemotherapy, making it one of the most aggressive types of breast cancer.

"However, with medical advances, being diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer no longer needs to be a death sentence.

"HER2-targeted IV therapy provides women with HER2-positive breast cancer with a viable and effective treatment option that can reduce the chances of the cancer recurring and boost their chances of disease-free survival."

For women who have early-stage breast cancer and are HER2-positive, HER2-targeted IV targeted therapy can be used in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy, or after surgery, to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.

According the international HERA (HERceptin Adjuvant) study the HER2-targeted IV therapy, following standard chemotherapy, significantly reduces the risk of HER2-positive breast cancer recurring by approximately 50 percent compared to chemotherapy alone.

Similarly, remarkable benefits have also been seen in three other major global and US studies.

The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) encouraged women of all races to regularly examine their breasts to detect any potential cancerous lumps.

According to CANSA, every woman over the age of 50 must consider having a mammogram once a year, to check for any changes in the breasts, which could signal the onset of the disease.

Regular screening by mammography has the potential to reduce mortality from breast cancer by up to one-third among women aged 50 - 69 years.

CANSA advises women to do the Breast Self-Examination once every month and have an examination by a health care practitioner every year.

"The best time to examine your breasts is during the week after your period, when your breasts will be softest and least tender, making it easier to detect a lump," CANSA advises.

Breast cancer patients requiring further information on HER2-positive breast cancer can visit www.her2.co.za <http://www.her2.co.za>