Dequity Capital has partnered with Dolla Financial Services Limited and Johnston Development Group Limited to provide 25 free mammogram screenings between Breast Cancer Awareness Day and National Mammogram Day — October 13 and October 21, respectively. The screenings will be conducted at Royale Medical Hospital in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, and will be offered to the first 25 eligible women to show up to the hospital for testing.

Breast cancer is the leading diagnosed cancer among Jamaican women. According to the Jamaican Cancer Society, approximately 300 Jamaican women die annually from breast cancer, and as a country, less than 10 per cent of the eligible women in Jamaica are screened for the disease. With a lack of screening programmes and facilities available to offer this service in western Jamaica, Dequity, Dolla, and Johnston Development Group saw this as a good opportunity to partner with Royale Medical Hospital to provide the women of western Jamaica access to the important service of medical screening and diagnosis. Royale Medical Hospital, which is also a portfolio company of Dequity, is one of the few facilities in western Jamaica which offers mammogram screenings.

“Royale Hospital has developed over two decades of a reputable practice in the area of female health care, and Dequity has invested in Royale with the vision to take Royale’s medicinal practices to the next level,” said Adrian Smith, chief executive officer at Dequity. “The best way for us to continue to support Royale’s goals, especially as financial investors, is to also contribute to the hospital’s initiatives and to assist in the sensitisation and education of the public. After learning of their discount to women seeking mammogram screenings, we thought it would be best to also include other partners to sweeten the deal by offering 25 completely free screenings on October 13 and October 21 in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Day and National Mammogram Day, respectively,” said Smith.

Royale Medical Hospital has committed to offering a 12.5 per cent discount on all mammogram screenings for the month of October for Breast Awareness Month. Based in Savanna-la-Mar and servicing the western region for the past 26 years, Royale is eager to contribute to the Ministry of Health’s strategic goal to reduce premature mortality caused by non-communicable diseases such as cancer by 25 per cent by 2025.

“Being in business for the past 26 years, I am grateful to be able to offer this specific service because of the lack of capabilities in the country to offer mammogram screening,” said Dr Evan O Nepaul, founder, managing director at Royale Medical Hospital. “With giving this discount, we are hopeful more women will be able to get a screening, to identify any issues in the early stages because it is always best to learn while it is still early,” said Dr Nepaul.

October is commonly known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is used to promote mammogram screening due to the underutilisation and inaccessibility of screening centres in Jamaica. Annual mammograms are critical to the early detection of breast cancer, which dramatically increases survival. To make an appointment or receive one of the free mammogram screenings sponsored by Dequity, Dolla, and Johnston Development Group, or to receive a discount on your mammogram screening during the month of October, visit Royale Medical Hospital at 10 Lewis Street, Savanna-la-Mar, or call (876) 955-4441.