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Charity champions behind the Think Pink Bahrain breast cancer awareness campaign are urging supporters to make a final push to help raise BD28,000 to cover the last instalment for a state-of-the-art digital MRI machine.
The equipment will provide an essential tool in the battle to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths in the kingdom as early diagnosis of the disease is often a vital aspect of successful treatment.
The long-awaited machine costing BD490,499, scheduled to be operational for nationals and expats alike in February 2015, will be installed in Salmaniya Medical Complex’s (SMC) new Radiology and Diagnostic Centre.
After 10 years of existence, the charity has already handed over the princely sum of BD245,249.500, the second instalment will be paid when the machine arrives in Bahrain in November and all that is needed is the third and final payment when the equipment is up-and-running.
According to Think Pink Bahrain founder Jules Sprakel, this will be only the second breast-specific MRI available in the region. She said: “It is the most incredible milestone personally and for the charity. The decision to purchase such a machine came about five years ago, with a lot of due diligence from our side, and in collaboration with the Oncology Department at SMC.
“It took three years to raise the initial BD400,000 necessary, and on presentation some policies and procedures changed within the Ministry of Health (MoH). New tendering processes were put in place and the charity had to adhere to these which all took time.
“The delay, however, has meant that the most up-to-date digital MRI machine has been purchased for Bahrain, for which only one other similar machine is available in the region. This breast-specific digital MRI will also enable scanning and diagnosis of other cancers and conditions, but will mostly be utilised for breast cancer issues.
“This achievement is something that the community should be extremely proud of as this machine effectively was bought by it.
“Think Pink Bahrain was the catalyst but the community and corporations believed in the mission, vision and team. It is quite a surreal moment, and has taken a lot to get here. Determination, drive and courage – to take the knocks, along with the support from the community – have made this dream a reality.”
The new medical equipment is part of Phase One of the MoH’s plan for revamping SMC’s radiology department.
Dr Suzanne Abbas, SMC’s consultant neuro-radiologist and the department’s chairperson, said the equipment’s arrival had to coincide with the building of an expanded facility because there was no space in the original 1,000-bed complex to house it.
Creative planning meant that space was created when the hospital’s intensive care unit and pharmacy were moved into another area.
Work is now underway to make the facility MRI ready. Dr Abbas explained: “The MRI is a very powerful machine and as well as shielding it needs extra electricity – a substation had to be built – helium chambers, and many things arranged prior to its arrival.
“The radiology department is also expecting to have a molecular imaging unit where it will have a brand new gamma camera and SPECT CT, another image-scanning piece of equipment.”
The new MRI will be placed alongside two existing machines in the molecular unit and two consultants have already been recruited to join the team and the recruitment of more technicians is likely to follow.
The Radiology Department at SMC provides consultant-led and high-quality imaging services. The full range of radiological procedures on offer include ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, Multi-detector Computed Tomography (MDCT scan), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), plain radiography, vascular, BMD, OT, Mobile, fluoroscopy, copy of medical imaging and so on.
The team consists of 12 consultant radiologists, 25 resident radiologists, 54 radiographers, nine radiologic technologists, one medical physicist, seven medical services aids, 10 medical secretaries, 13 clerical staff and two messengers provided by the hospital’s General Services Department. This is also a teaching department with trainees constantly learning new techniques.
According to Dr Abbas, radiology has progressed rapidly in recent years. She said: “In the past, I suppose we had a general radiologist but now with the advancements in technology and knowledge, radiology has become much more advanced and sub-specialised.
“I believe the department of radiology in Salmaniya, in particular, is very proud to offer a range of services.”
The hospital also proudly boasts some of the most highly-trained specialists in the field. SMC’s Dr Lamya Ebrahim, for example, underwent a two-and-a-half year fellowship in Australia and is now a breast-imaging specialist, and Dr Marwa Almeslemani, carried out her two-year fellowship in Singapore and carries the title of a women’s imaging specialist.
The investment in new technology and equipment is also making a difference to the services being offered to patients. Dr Abbas said: “This state-of-the-art equipment offers better resolution to help pick up more abnormalities and lesions that could have been missed on other less advanced technologies.
“The new MRI can be used by everyone. Any patient with a referral to SMC has the right to utilise the services.”
Earlier this month the Think Pink Bahain charity needed to raise BD50,000 to cover the final costs of the MRI machine but the campaign was boosted by the success of its Gala Evening on Friday at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa.
The event, featuring US singer Jennifer Crestol, raised BD22,000 thanks to a raffle, auction, corporate tables and ticket sale meaning the final push has been targetted as BD28,000.
The screening for breast cancer at the hospital is currently provided free of charge for people living in Bahrain regardless of nationality, although using an MRI in general costs around BD110 but can differ according to screening usage.
The Radiology Department provides all its services to outpatients from 7am to 2pm on weekdays and 24-hours seven-days-a-week for inpatients and for patients referred by the Accident & Emergency Department.
For further details, contact 17284005, 17284000, 17284027 or 17285537.
