HAPPY TIME: from left, Dr Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo, Lady Buchanan, Yvonne Brewer, and Dr Elizabeth Ferdinand are all smiles after the unveiling of the plaque at the Breast Screening Centre. The plaque was unveiled as a tribute to the group who helped with the purchase of equipment for the surgery at the Barbados Cancer Society. (Picture by Sandy Pitt.)

THE CHARITABLE donations from the Royal Westmoreland Ladies Golf Tournament have gone a long way in helping the Barbados Cancer Society complete 23 000 mammograms since the establishment of the breast cancer screening programme.

And yesterday at the society's Henry's Lane, Collymore Rock,
St Michael offices,
a plaque was unveiled
as a tribute to the group who helped with the purchase of equipment
to facilitate these tests.

Dr Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo, chairperson
of the Barbados Breast Screening programme, said initially the wait
to have a biopsy done
was three weeks; it was now three months –
a wait which could be reduced if they had expanded facilities.

She said in the next five years they hoped to be able to go digital.

Hanoman-Jhagroo added that three surgeons were onboard to do the biopies on a voluntary basis but the facilities were now bursting at the seams. That's why the help from the Royal Westmoreland went
a long way.

Senior Medical Officer of Health Dr Elizabeth Ferdinand said the women of Barbados, and some men too, were thankful for the achievements and that was why they dedicated the plaque.

Yvonne Brewer who organised the tournament said it was a kind gesture and she was delighted
to be able to help.
She said the group
had already secured sponsors for next year's tournament so they
would again be
onboard with the screening programme. (WB)