Blessing of new breast screening unit at Kenepuru

A new collaboration between BreastScreen Aotearoa and Capital & Coast was formally blessed by Kenepuru Kaumatua Taku Parai this morning.

“The priority for us is getting better access to Maori and Pacific Island women between the ages of 45 to 69 and convincing them to get a mammogram,” said Donna Brown, Service Manager Regional Screening Services.

“Our health targets are to reach 70% of our eligible population but currently Maori are only at  64.7 %, Pacific Island  55.4 % while everyone else is at 70.1 %. By opening this site at Kenepuru it will give us better access to the population base at Porirua and Kapiti.”

Breast Screen Central, which is one of eight BreastScreen Aotearoa  providers, are renting space from Kenepuru. The first patient will be screened on July 1 and screeners hope to see about 120 women a week.    

The first patient will be screened on July 1 and screeners hope to see about 120 women a week.    

BreastScreen Aotearoa is based at Hutt Valley DHB and looks after the central region, which includes Hutt, C&C DHB and Wairarapa DHB.