NMU centre collaborates on cancer awareness mobile app
Taking the prevalence of cancer into account, NTT Data’s mobile application, C-Vive, could help increase the awareness of the disease, even before a diagnosis. The virtual launch of the application by NTT Data in collaboration with Nelson Mandela University’s Centre for Community Technologies (CCT) and OutSystems takes place today. Everis, an NTT Data company, designed and developed the app that won first place and the Best User Experience Award in low code development platform OutSystems’ Build for the Future Hackathon that took place last year. NTT Data developer Nuno Faro Gomes said the challenge presented to them was that the application should be used by anyone, anywhere, irrespective of gender, age, education level or circumstances at home. “We wanted to reach as many people as possible, so we decided to go for a mobile application. “We wanted to be culturally respectful, so we decided to support multiple languages. “In addition, we wanted to ensure that content is always available, so we had to include an offline experience because the internet is not universally available to everyone.” Gomes said the app was inclusive of text, audio and video content types. CCT director Prof Darelle van Greunen said with the prevalence of certain cancer types in the Eastern Cape, the centre decided there was a need for the creation of a technical solution for awareness and mainly prevention, especially based on the local reality. “The CCT is collaborating with Cansa on a variety of cancer-related projects. By collaborating with these organisations and oncologists working in rural communities, the need to understand the prevalence of different cancers became evident,” she said. “Research has also shown that cancer patients seldom understand the disease, the treatment, its side effects, and the emotional impact the disease has on their lives and families. “The lack of information and the misinterpretation of available information leads to fear and stigmatisation, resulting in evading medical advice and treatment. “So, we are confident that the app would address all these challenges.” Van Greunen said the app dealt with lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, cancer symptoms, cancer treatment and risks. “It also has a section for cancer awareness campaigns as well as telephone numbers to call for assistance and support. “We also wrote and translated the English content to isiXhosa. “The app has audio and video clips and is aimed at assisting people at all literacy levels.” Gerda Strauss, from Cansa, said according to the 2019 National Cancer Registry report, the top cancers affecting women in SA were breast cancer (first) and cervical cancer (second). The top two cancers affecting men in SA are prostate cancer, which affects one in 15 men, and colorectal cancer, which affects one in 132 men. The stats for men and women exclude non-melanoma skin cancers, which are the second most common in both men and women. ‘In terms of children, between 800 to 1,000 SA children are diagnosed with cancer annually. “However, it is estimated that half of the children with cancer in SA are never diagnosed,” Strauss said. The launch can be viewed at https://www.linkedin.com/ feed/update/urn:li:activity:6932381974602903552