May 11, 2023
Breast screening to boost focus on wāhine Māori
A review of Breast Screening Aotearoa has recommended a strengthened focus on improving cancer screening access and experiences for wāhine Māori and Pacific women.
Wāhine Māori and Pacific women had the highest death rate from breast cancer for the 45-69 year screening age group at 68 deaths per 100,000 women, compared to 42 deaths per 100,000 women for non-Māori/non-Pacific women.
The review was commissioned a year ago by Te Whatu Ora chief executive Margie Apa after reports a number of women in the Wellington region had been waiting longer than the 60 working day target for their first screening mammogram.
Women who access the national breast cancer screening programme have a 34 percent reduction in their risk of breast cancer death.
Te Whatu Ora announced a new national breast screening register to support the response to the review, along with additional funding of $55 million over the next four years to improve services.
A Breast Screening Action Plan will be developed by Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora.