Three hospitals raising funds for digital mammography units

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MIRAMICHI - A campaign to purchase a digital mammography unit for the Miramichi Regional Hospital got a significant boost last week when the provincial Health Department announced a $170,000 contribution.

It was one of three similar contributions announced by New Brunswick Health Minister Mike Murphy towards the cost of digital mammography units. The other two contributions went to the Chaleur Regional Hospital Foundation in Bathurst and the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation in Saint John.

The Miramichi Regional Hospital Foundation has set a fund-raising goal of $600,000 to acquire a unit for the hospital.

"A local digital mammography service will provide patients of our region with the benefits of faster diagnosis, and offer the best chances of treating breast cancer successfully. We are most grateful to the Department of Health for recognizing and acting on the needs of our region," said foundation chairman Steve Myles.

Murphy praised all hospital foundations for the role they play in providing quality health care in the province.

"We see hospital foundations as key partners, and we want to work with them to provide quality, sustainable health care within a self-sufficient New Brunswick," he said.

The minister said he was open to new and inventive ways of working together with the foundations which will help bring better technology to the public health system faster, adding the improved access to digital mammography equipment was of particular interest.

Mammogram screenings should be done every two years for women between the ages of 50 and 69 years for early detection of breast cancer.

"Digital equipment will allow more women to be screened more accurately than is presently the case using analog technology. And earlier detection and prompt treatment are the keys to successfully treating and beating breast cancer," Murphy said.