by EDNAL PALMER

The wait is still on for a Mammogram Machine that was installed last year at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) to be operational.

Minister for Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Paul Bosowai Popora in response to the Opposition Leader who questioned the continuous delay in operationalizing the equipment, said technicians have discovered a further missing seal.

“During installment, in August this year, technicians realized a further missing seal that is now being sourced,” Popora said.

“Technicians are expected back in Honiara and once the parts are received and technicians’ travel are arranged, the part should be installed,” he added.

Mammogram is an x-ray imaging machine used to examine the breast for the early detection of cancer and other breast diseases.

It is used as both a diagnostic and screening tool on women to check for early cancer detection.

According to head of the Oncology Unit at the NRH, Dr Andrew Soma, breast

cancer is the leading cause of death amongst women in Solomon Islands.

The unused Mammogram Machine at the NRH was donated by the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) in November 2023, installed but technicians discovered missing parts.

It has not been used since.

Speaking on the issue in parliament, the health minister said non-communicable diseases are rampant and that the responsibility is also on people to take precautionary measures.

“We need to watch our daily diets. We need to do daily exercises. These NCDs are avoidable, so proactive steps are important to help out our struggling health system.

“Some cancers are caused by smoking and chewing betel-nut, diabetes and other NCDs are related to the food we eat, so we have to be responsible for our health.”

Meanwhile as a result of the stalled mammographic machine, women are encouraged to do breast self-examination and to seek medical help if they feel a lump or have any concerns.

Currently evaluation of breast lumps can be done by:

• Physical examination by clinical staff
• Imaging of breast lumps by ultrasound to determine location and nature of lump
• Fine needle biopsy of breast tissue cells collected for staining and microscopic examination
• Tissue biopsy for histology and definitive diagnosis.
• Appropriate Surgical management as indicated
• CT Scan imaging for staging (spread) if breast cancer is confirmed to guide management
• Appropriate Chemotherapy by oncology unit

Mammograms can often show abnormal areas in the breast. They can’t tell for sure if an abnormal area is cancer, but they can help health care providers decide if more testing (such as a breast biopsy) is needed.