‘Proper Affordable Screening Required’
Government should seriously consider conducting a proper and affordable breast cancer screening programme for women, says radiologist Dr Jonetani Kama.
He said this was particularly important for those women living in the rural areas.
Dr Kama, who is based at the Suva Private Hospital, claims they are the only one offering breast screening programmes.
“The screening programme comes with high costs and that is why we are urging the Government to fund a proper screening programme so that women from the rural areas can benefit as well,” he said.
“My main concern as I am involved with breast screening and breast management at the Suva Private is on the Pinktober celebration and what the Government can do most importantly for women from rural areas as most of them get affected and die later because they could not afford screening in the first place.”
He said the charges at the Suva Private Hospital for mammograms and ultrasound are too expensive for the rural women.
“The CWM Hospital conducts mammogram for women who felt lumps or who have lumps but for those who don’t have lumps or who are not diagnosed; they don’t do screening for them.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services will continue its free breast cancer screening programme until December.
Assistant Minister for Health Veena Bhatnagar says the initiative was a move by the Ministry to fight the cancer and inform members of the public about the importance of getting screened.
“The screening programmes will be conducted in various health centres and hospitals all over the country and we are encouraging women to get screened at their nearest health centre,” she said.
