Fair Prospect women to get free mammograms
At least 55 women from Fair Prospect in Portland will benefit from free mammograms later this month, following a donation of $250, 000 from the United States-based Caribbean Medical Mission to Jamaica Cancer Society’s St Ann/St Mary branch.
“We are here today to provide the Jamaica Cancer Society with $250, 000 to support about 55 mammograms and six ultrasounds”, treasurer of the Caribbean Medical Mission, Marrie-Rose Garbacz told the Jamaica Observer North & East after presenting the cheque to Jamaica Cancer Society last Friday in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
“We are happy to give and we will be giving more; we feel that there is a need. A lot of women are in need of mammograms in Jamaica and cannot afford it,” she added.
The donation is the second to come from the organisation. A few years ago, $400, 000 was donated to the St Ann/ St Mary branch of the cancer society to carry out similar screening tests in St, Ann and St Mary.
“We are working closely with Fair Prospect Health Centre and the patients have already been identified,” Garbacz said.
Marilyn Williams, president of the St Ann/St Mary chapter of Jamaica Cancer Society, was very happy for the donation.
“We are very appreciative because we go out there and we beg donation to give free care. We have already spoken to the people in Portland, we are going to transport them here — the Cancer Society will stand that cost. We will get the mammograms done and we will take them back. We will also follow-up with any incident of cancer; that means we get the biopsy done, the ultrasound, and we get the doctor to operate,” Williams said.
“We are very grateful for this, very very grateful for it,” Williams continued.
The Caribbean Medical Mission was founded in 1996 by Caribbean-born doctors in New Jersey to provide aid for those in need in the Caribbean. The organisation is currently headed by Dr Winston Scott, ophthalmologist and father of Jamaican shot-putter, Dorian Scott.