New Mobile Screening Service Ready to Roll

New Mobile Screening Service Ready to Roll

Breast screening will be much easier to access for Counties Manukau women after the launch of a dedicated mobile breast screening unit on Monday 30th of October.

An additional 100 women will now be able to be screened each week and the service is free to those aged 45 to 69 years old.

The purchase of the new mobile for BreastScreen Counties Manukau has been enabled through support from The Lion Foundation and The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation. It is one of three built in Australia for breast screening providers throughout New Zealand.

The mobile unit will be available to all eligible women, but there will be particular emphasis on screening Maori and Pacific women as coverage is extremely low in these ethnic groups.

Health Promotion Coordinator, Jude Manuel says,

"Many Maori and Pacific women do not feel comfortable in the clinical environment. We are looking forward to developing a mobile schedule that provides better access for eligible women in our region. The support of the community, GPs and Primary Health Organisations will be vital in achieving this"

In September 2005, BreastScreen Counties Manukau began screening as part of the National Breast Screening programme, BreastScreen Aotearoa. Since then, over 12 000 women have been screened. Over 60 of them have been diagnosed with breast cancer. For these women and their families, BreastScreen Aotearoa's key message of "Early Detection is your Best Protection" has special significance.

The official opening of the unit will take place at the Manukau SuperClinic on Monday the 30th of October at 2pm and has been timed as a positive conclusion for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The event will be attended by the Deputy Mayor of Counties Manukau Anne Candy, BreastScreen Counties Manukau's Medical Director Dr Sally Urry. The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation's executive director Helen Mawn, The Lion Foundation's chairman, Mike Smith and other key identities, many of who have been crucial in seeing the project become a reality.

Proceedings will commence at 2pm and will include a karakia and an unveiling of the custom fitted mammography machine. A specially shaped cake has also been ordered to mark the event. It will be in the shape of the mobile unit, of-course.

BreastScreen Aotearoa is a free national breast screening programme designed to screen well women between the ages of 45-69. Women can enrol on the programme through their GP, or they can enrol themselves by calling FreePhone 0800 270 200.

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