MANCHESTER, Jamaica — The Mandeville Regional Hospital has successfully performed its first-ever colonoscopy, expanding access to advanced endoscopic services and strengthening early detection of colorectal cancer for residents of Manchester and neighbouring parishes.

The achievement was announced on Thursday by the Southern Regional Health Authority via X. The authority noted that with the new endoscopy tower now installed and certification training completed, the hospital is poised to expand screening services and enhance timely diagnosis.

Dr Andrew Josephs, a surgical consultant at the hospital, said the facility expects to perform between six and 10 procedures daily once operations are fully underway. Initially, priority will be given to patients experiencing symptoms.

“To at least get them early investigations because prior to this, they were only able to get this done privately and based off the costs, those can be anywhere from $70,000 upwards,” he explained.

Dr Josephs emphasised that colonoscopies are generally not painful, with patients experiencing only minor discomfort. He also pointed out that if results are normal, the test typically does not need to be repeated for seven to 10 years — unlike annual screenings such as mammograms.

He urged residents to speak with their healthcare provider about appropriate screening options, especially those between the ages of 45 and 50.

“It really does save lives. So get yourself tested…that is the main message: get tested. So if even not with endoscopy, at least…the stool-based blood tests,” Dr Josephs said.

The endoscopy tower was donated by Food For the Poor and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with facilitation by AA Laquis, local distributor for the Olympus brand of the equipment.