$100-million headache
Jamaica Cancer Society still badly in need of mobile unit
THE Jamaica Cancer Society is still in need of a mobile screening unit after years of seeking assistance, and it would appear as though it will not come to fruition any time soon.
Michael Leslie, acting executive director of the Jamaica Cancer Society, was speaking during a Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange when he pointed to the exorbitant cost to acquire a unit at the non-profit organisation.
“We had the mobile programme years ago. This mobile programme allowed the cancer society to go out to persons who can’t come to us. That programme is down because the machine is obsolete and we don’t have any resources to buy a second one. We are not the only ones who do mammograms in Jamaica so if persons can’t come to us, there are other facilities,” Leslie said.
“But it might be very costly, and that’s why at the cancer society, when we do mammograms and other tests, we depend on sponsors’ donations so we can subsidise the cost.
We need a new unit, but it’s probably going to cost us over $100 million for the actual extra unit plus a truck. That’s a lot of money,” he continued.
The unit, which was donated in 2000, has been out of service since October 2015. The Cancer Society’s then Executive Director Yulit Gordon had said that the entity was in need of $20 million to replace the unit.
By the end of 2015, the Jamaica Cancer Society fell woefully short of its yearly mobile programme target of screening between 1,200 and 1,500 women, when it screened fewer than 700.
“We don’t want a repeat of that in 2016 going forward, especially where this cancer is so prevalent...” Gordon told the Observer early 2016.
She noted that while the mobile unit was down, the cancer society had formed partnerships with medical facilities that provide radiology services to facilitate mammography services for its customers across the island.
Fast-forward to 2023, Leslie is highlighting the same problem, arguing that more Jamaican women could be “adding more years to their lives” if they are screened early.
But with no mobile unit, many will never know if they have cancer until it is too late.
“If we had one, it would allow us to go out to all parts of Jamaica and get ladies screened — ladies who can’t come to our clinic. There are a number of Jamaican women who need screening but can’t afford to be screened. They are in Westmoreland, Hanover, different parts of Jamaica,” Leslie told the Observer Monday Exchange ahead of this Sunday’s staging of ATL Group’s All That’s Good Charity 5K Walk-run race, proceeds from which will be donated to the cancer society.
The event commences at 6:00 am at the AC Hotel Kingston.