First lady’s office to pay for 50 more women to have mammogram screening

First Lady, Mrs Arya Ali, on Wednesday announced 50 women will be able to get a mammogram screening paid for by her office.

Making the announcement during a tree wrapping exercise in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022, on Wednesday, the first lady said “I used this opportunity to recommit my support in the fight against this disease by sponsoring mammograms for another 50 women. So far, my Office has sponsored mammograms for 100 women.”

The First Lady, U.S Ambassador, and other awareness supporters

October is Breast Cancer awareness month. According to the World Health Organisation Guyana, ranks 23 in the world on breast cancer deaths. This ranking is alarming. The ranking also suggests where healthcare is a right in Guyana and there is a public health care system, the Government needs to do more.

The money the first lady is using for the 100 mammograms is from the Consolidated Fund. This is a service that should be made available to all eligible women.

Screening allows for early detection. Early detection allows for early intervention. Early intervention can save lives.

The cost for screening is between $8000 to $10,000. A woman should not have to make a choice between screening or having to forego some other need.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation provides free screening, an access that should be available nationwide. In Guyana’s ten administrative regions there are regional hospitals.

To this end the first lady’s call that  “We must continue advocacy and mobilisation of resources to support testing; because of the difference that early detection make” should be supported.