Early breast cancer screening service in limbo across NT

A lack of government funding is putting the lives of women in remote communities at risk, with Senator Malarndirri McCarthy calling on the Morrison Government to invest in breast cancer screening in the Northern Territory.

Barunga residents (L - R) Margaret Coleman, Erna Miller and Nell Brown waiting to get their mammograms done by the BreastScreenNT mobile mammogram unit ‘Millie.’ Picture: BREASTSCREENNT

A lack of government funding is putting the lives of women in remote communities at risk, with Senator Malarndirri McCarthy calling on the Morrison Government to invest in breast cancer screening in the Northern Territory.

Mobile mammography unit ‘Millie’ – run by BreastScreenNT – services 20 remote communities up and down the Territory, screening 5,721 remote women since launching in 2014.

Informed in October the unit would require critical technology upgrades totalling $650,000 to enhance the quality of care and minimise risk of missed cancers, efforts made to secure funding through State and Federal Government and peak Indigenous and non-Indigenous health bodies failed.

Bosom Buddies President, Lesley Reilly, strongly believes funding for the unit is a Federal responsibility.

“70 per cent of the clientele is Aboriginal and the unit is, in practical terms, a ‘Closing the Gap’ measure that dramatically improves survival through early detection,” Ms Reilly said.

“The mobile unit becoming operational saw the expansion of the BreastScreen service from five hubs for screening to more than 20.”

“It is imperative that funding is identified to upgrade the truck and its equipment as soon as possible and get it back on the road to continue delivery of its life saving service to remote women.”

Women in remote communities in the Northern Territory depend on mobile mammogram unit ‘Millie’ to deliver lifesaving breast screening services. It is estimated that around eight deaths from breast cancer will be prevented for every 1000 women screened every two years from age 50 to age 74, based on evaluation of mammographic screening in Australia. Picture: BREASTSCREENNT

A spokesperson for Senator McCarthy said women in remote communities shouldn’t be deprived of healthcare “because of where they live.”

“Bosom Buddies and Leslie Reilly have fought hard to ensure Territory women in remote communities get access to mammograms through the 4WD screening bus,” the spokesperson said.

“This is a life-saving service for women in remote communities, most of them Indigenous, who may not have other opportunities to access mammography services.”

“I fully support Bosom Buddies efforts to keep Millie the screening bus on the road. The Morrison Government should be investing in this vital health service for remote communities, ensuring women do not miss out on breast cancer screening simply because of where they live.”

“’Millie’ takes its scheduled break over the Wet Season, so there is an opportunity for the Morrison Government to commit to funding the required upgrades to get Millie back on the road in the New Year.”

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A spokesperson for Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said the Minister was astonished a service “completely within the responsibility of the NT Government” had been withdrawn.

“Minister Hunt recently wrote to the Central Australia Aboriginal Congress and expressed concern at the withdrawal of this service, and how it may impact the participation in breast cancer screenings,” the spokesperson said.

“The mobile unit plays an important part in providing access to breast cancer screening services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the Northern Territory.”

“However the financial responsibility for BreastScreening infrastructure in the Northern Territory, lies with the Northern Territory Government.”

“The Minister calls on the Northern Territory Government to ensure that this vital service continues without delay.”

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt and NT Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles, were approached for comment.