Letter Asserts Lack Of Response From Ministry on Mammogram Equipment Donation For Eleuthera

Dear Editor,

In February 2007 the Island of Eleuthera lost a beautiful lady "Theresa Ferguson" to breast cancer and many others before and after her.  Theresa was a dear friend to me.  Upon returning to Florida after her funeral, I was on a mission to change breast cancer screening availability to the women on the Island of Eleuthera. 

Over the course of months, I researched equipment, asked for donations, even attempted to contact Oprah!  I was working very closely with Kathy Berner from the Cancer Society in Palmetto.  I began getting frustrated as no one would reply to my solicitations, my efforts continued.  Since I am in the medical field, I began asking physicians for advice and my prayers were answered. 

One of my largest clients, a group of Ob/Gyn physicians in Florida were in the process of changing their mammography equipment to a newer version of equipment and generously donated State of the Art mammography equipment, film processing equipment, everything needed to start offering mammograms locally. 

Kathy Berner and I were so happy with our accomplishments, we received approval from the Ministry of Finance in October 2007, G & G Shipping has donated the shipping and we still continue to get no approval from the Ministry of Health.  We have supplied them with Physicists reports, equipment documentation, everything has been sent immediately upon their request.  We have solicited the assistance of Terry Fountain in Nassau, sent emails to Camille Johnson. 

I am saddened at the lack of interest/ response by the Ministry of Health, given all the publicity regarding the concern about the Breast Cancer Campaign for the Bahamas and the increased incidence of this horrible, deadly disease that is threatening, killing the women of your country.  We have received letters commending us for our efforts......we need to get the equipment approved!  It will take additional time to get the equipment set up, staff trained.....meanwhile, women die and the equipment sits in storage waiting approval.  What can we do? 

I look forward to hearing from you and with your assistance, maybe we can get the Ministry of Health to stop passing the paperwork from desk to desk or at the very least, let your people know the Ministry does not have their interest in mind.

Thank You.
Linda Bethel-Boller
772-528-7253