Bonita Donates Digital Mammography Unit To Gibraltar Health Authority

State-of-the-art equipment ensures breast cancer screening programme for Gibraltar patients

GIBRALTAR. - September 29, 2008 - Gibraltar-based Bonita Trust today announced a large donation to the Gibraltar Health Authority to purchase a new Direct Digital Mammography Unit which will allow the department to achieve high-resolution digital images and therefore greatly advance the diagnostic facilities. Bonita's contribution sits alongside renewed commitments from the Gibraltar Health Authority to provide an annual Screening Programme for women between 40 and 49, a biennial programme for women aged 50 and 59, and voluntary access for women over 75.

On behalf of the Government of Gibraltar, Minister for Health, Yvette del Agua said:

"The new digital mammography unit is a very important piece of equipment, which along with other measures that are in the process of being implemented, will allow the GHA to offer a structured breast cancer screening programme. This is great news for the women of Gibraltar. It will provide improved breast imaging, which will allow detection of smaller lesions, with results being made available to our breast service almost immediately. The installation of this Unit will serve to improve even further the already very successful one stop breast clinic services that the GHA currently offers."

Digital images produced by the new Direct Digital Unit are much clearer than those produced by existing equipment, with higher contrast, allowing early cancers and micro-calcification to be more easily detected and will reduce the incidence of false positives/negatives.

Isobel Ellul-Hammond, Chairman of Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar said:

"We have always been determined that a Breast Screening Programme in Gibraltar should start without delay. We believe having the best and latest Mammography scanning equipment from the very start of the Screening Programme is essential to its success and we are hopeful the Programme will start before the end of the year. Bonita's donation has given Gibraltar the technology to be at the forefront of cancer treatment and, with this donation, has made a huge contribution to the Gibraltar community."

The Bonita Trust was established in Gibraltar in 2004 and aims to make a positive contribution to the Gibraltar community. Attending a dinner marking Bonita's fourth anniversary, Ruth Parasol de Leon – DeLeon, Advisor to The Bonita Trust said:

"Bonita is committed to Gibraltar and to making a contribution to the community here. I am delighted that Bonita is once again working in close partnership with the Gibraltar Health Authority to provide much-needed equipment that will improve the lives and well-being of patients in Gibraltar."

At the anniversary dinner, Rt. Hon. E M Britto, Minister for the Environment and Tourism, spoke on behalf of the Government. He welcomed this important donation and the continued partnership between the Government of Gibraltar and The Bonita Trust.

-ENDS-

About Digital Mammography:

The Direct Digital Unit produces higher quality imaging of breasts with implants reducing the need for higher dosages of radiation that would be needed with existing (CR and ultrasound) equipment.

Images are produced quicker than existing scanners and can be manipulated by radiologists reducing the need for repeat mammograms. State-of-the-art technology means the scanner is less likely to need upgrading and is compatible with existing digital radiographic equipment at St Bernard's Hospital.