The Mammogram machine at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital Oncology Unit has not been in operation for the past three months.
CWM General & Paediatric Surgeon, Dr Josese Turugava in his presentation at the launch of the CWM Hospital Oncology Unit Pinktober Campaign highlighted that the Mammogram machine along with the Microtome machine have been inoperable for some time now.
Turagava says that a mammogram machine is designed to look only at breast tissue and annual mammograms can detect cancer early when it is most treatable.
He adds that in order for a Pathologist to view tissue samples for biopsy and to know the abnormalities from the sample that was taken they need a Microtome machine to slice the tissues.
This was directly brought to the attention of the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Rosy Akbar who was officiating at the launch.
The Health Minister says that the team was successful in bringing these very pressing issues to her attention.
She adds that it is through such dialogue and communication that these issues can be taken forward and dealt with.
However, Akbar says that in the future, concerns such as this should be raised through the proper channels.
The Health Minister also stressed that some basic issues that have been raised could have been solved had the Minister known sooner.
She says that if people who are trusted with the responsibility to look after these things did their job properly then the hospital would not have gone 3 months without this essential equipment.
Akbar also urged health professionals to continue to do what they do best as the Ministry continues to support them.
