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The kingdom’s breast cancer charity champions, Think Pink Bahrain, are closing in on a bid to buy a digital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening machine costing BD500,000 for Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).
With BD400,000 collected so far they need a further BD100,000 to cover the cost of a two-year warranty and for training health personnel to use the equipment.
Experts recommend an MRI screening for early detection of breast cancer for high-risk patients, especially those who have a family history of cancer. The machine is available at the KHUH and the Bahrain Specialist Hospital but international guidelines stipulate that for a population of Bahrain’s size there should be at least five such facilities.
A spokesman said that the charity had successfully raised a huge amount towards the equipment in the last two-and-a-half years from private donations and corporate sponsors. The ultimate aim was to improve breast cancer screening across Bahrain through a variety of schemes directed at awareness, education and prevention of the killer disease.
The charity is waiting for a final green signal from the Ministry of Health, who first requested the equipment in 2009, before placing an order.
Founder of the charity, Jules Sprakel, pictured above, said: “I can see the machine and almost touch it. We are almost there!
“As soon as we get a letter of confirmation from the Ministry of Health we can go ahead and purchase it. The time line looks like three to four months before the machine gets here.”
The charity is planning to work closely with the breast clinic team at KHUH. It has been providing financial support for training and education of several health care professionals and students from SMC and Bahrain Defence Force Hospital in breast cancer care.
