THE Breast Oncology Clinic at Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) is the recipient of a new Mindray portable diagnostic ultrasound unit donated by Women’s Health Network – Jamaica (WHN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which provides health and social care services to women in underserved communities.

According to Dr Rudolph Stevens, executive director of WHN, for more than four years the NGO has been advocating for dedicated breast health clinics across all health regions based on the statistics relating to this particular cancer.

A series of multi-disciplinary meetings and discussions resulted with the first clinic at KPH pioneered by Dr Jason Copeland and Dr Hugh Roberts, under the leadership of the then Senior Medical Officer Dr Natalie Whylie, who is now the acting CEO.

The clinic currently sees more than 30 patients each week and is growing.

The Mindray portable diagnostic ultrasound unit donated recently by Women’s Health Network – Jamaica to the Breast Oncology Clinic at Kingston Public Hospital.

In accepting the gift, Dr Copeland highlighted its significance in allowing more women timely access to diagnosis and treatment, as it will reduce the waiting time for a woman with a breast lump to get her diagnosis.

It will also allow for the precise targeting of the site of the lump so that a smaller amount of tissue is removed under ultrasonic guidance at her first visit right there in the clinic, thus avoiding an operative lumpectomy.

This prevents the woman from going elsewhere to wait for an appointment date for ultrasound. Following a core needle biopsy under ultrasonic guidance in the clinic, the tissue is sent to the pathologist for examination allowing the woman to receive a definitive report within three weeks.

During October of last year, WHN launched an appeal among its members and friends for a Christmas gift for the KPH Breast Oncology Clinic.

Following discussion with the clinic doctors on the needs that will impact the delivery of care, this was suggested.

The appeal was a success; although, at the end of December 2023, WHN did not meet the target. However, by February 2024, the target was reached and the machine was purchased at a cost of US$10,000 ($1.6 million).

In handing over the gift at the clinic recently, Dr Stevens pledged the support of WHN over the coming years to building the technical capacity of the clinic to respond in a meaningful way to the needs of men and women who have been affected by breast cancer.