The ScreenSouth breast-screening bus began its year-long tour in Oamaru earlier this month, and will be in Balclutha this winter, from June 16 to July 25.
WellSouth equity team leader pou whirinaki Riiti Conway said the travelling team was tasked with getting more wāhine (women) to the bus and improving breast check rates for women in the South.
"The agreement with WellSouth specifies improving breast-screening access and outcomes for Māori and Pacific Island women within the Southern region to address the equity gap in screening coverage," Ms Conway said.
In Otago and Southland, wāhine Māori and Pacific women were screened at rates about 10% lower than non-Māori and non-Pacific, who were screened at about 69%, she said.
"Ten percent may not sound like a big amount, but these numbers represent real people — mums, sisters, daughters, aunts. If they have a screening mammogram they are more likely to pick up cancer early. A very quick and free health check every two years can lead to better health outcomes."
Screening mammography alone would not prevent breast cancer, but evidence showed that regular screening helped with early detection.
Each year about 3000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in New Zealand, Māori and Pacific Island women experiencing the highest rates.
"Our Pou Manaaki Community Hub co-ordinators will be supporting more Māori and Pacific wāhine to enrol and participate in the screening programme, by giving women a call to talk with them about screening, offer to book their appointments and assist with getting to them. This personal support and having the mobile clinic visiting towns will make it less daunting and less time-consuming to get the check.
"For us, it’s about making it easier to go and get a mammogram, while also upholding the cultural integrity of participants."
