South African non-profit organisation Project Flamingo which has been operating in the country for the past fourteen years has completed thirty-five breast cancer surgeries in the public health sector in the country in one day as part of the Mandela Day celebrations.

The surgeries were made possible by volunteer surgeons, anesthetists, specialists in training, medical students and patient support teams made up of Project Flamingo volunteers and former patients.

Mandela Day is celebrated each year on the former statesman's birthday the 18th of July where people are encouraged to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to service.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting 129 thousand women.

In high income countries breast cancer has a good prognosis, but in sub-Saharan Africa survival is considerably lower.

Project Flamingo says like in Africa the public health care system in South Africa cannot manage the workload which causes the patients to wait long for surgeries.

Channel Africa Reporter Sisi Segalo spoke with the founder of the organisation who is also a Breast & Endocrine Surgeon Dr Liana Roodt.