NEWS DESK
Indigenous women have ‘low’ breast screening rates Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Closing the Gap report, released Wednesday, shows an increase in Indigenous cancer mortality rates and a huge disparity in patient breast screening compared to non-Indigenous residents. This reflects a “concerningly low” rate of presentation by Mornington Peninsula Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women compared to other groups in the same age cohort. Presentations by ATSI women at BreastScreen Victoria clinics at Frankston and Rosebud are well below the state average. The Frankston’s presentation rate is just 19 per cent of the target age group (50-74), while Rosebud’s is slightly better at 26 per cent. Yet, for nonIndigenous women, the Frankston presentation rate is 51 per cent and Rosebud 54 per cent. The state average is 54 per cent. Spokesperson Jane Aubrey said BreastScreen Victoria works with Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association to engage the ATSI population, however, she said presentation numbers are still “concerningly low”. Presentations are held at the Rosebud clinic. The Closing the Gap report states that: “Between 2006 and 2013, there was a 10 per cent increase in cancer death rates for Indigenous
patients and a six per cent decline for non-Indigenous Australians. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among indigenous women in Victoria,” Ms Aubrey said. “Working with key indigenous groups, particularly the regional Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOS), has been crucial to gain an understanding of how best to engage with the communities. “Not only is breast cancer the most common cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, but the mortality rate is also higher due to diagnosis at advanced stages – something BreastScreen Victoria is actively working to change.” Prime Minister Turnbull called for “hope and optimism rather than entrenched despair” in engaging with indigenous Australians and this is a sentiment shared by BreastScreen Victoria. Its CEO, Vicki Pridmore, said the testing “continues to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with participation rates improving through implementation of a considered, culturally sensitive program which aims to make the screening process easier”. “It’s important to remember that early detection of breast cancer improves outcomes for women,” she said. “Three quarters of all women diagnosed are over 50 and one 10-minute appointment every two years could save your life.” Details: breastscreen.org.au or call 13 20 50.
Roadside trim call for The Pillars JUMPING off The Pillars is a tempting challenge for the brave and foolhardy … and there’s no denying the increasing popularity of the Mt Martha clifftop. On warm weekends, hundreds of young people make the trip by car, boat and bus with fun and frolicking on their minds. But the danger doesn’t start there for those making their way on foot along The Esplanade. They first have to duck and weave around overhanging roadside vegetation, exposing themselves to vehicles on the narrow, winding stretch which doesn’t have a proper footpath. Mornington Peninsula Shire’s infrastructure services manager Niall McDonagh said the shire was “working closely with all agencies to address concerns associated with The Pillars”. “As The Esplanade is managed by VicRoads,
council is advocating for vegetation trimming along the road shoulders to improve pedestrian and road user safety,” he said. Senior Sergeant Brett Coloe, of Mornington police, last week said the “high number of pedestrians walking along the road on an already busy Esplanade is an accident waiting to happen”. Other concerns are that many visitors – a high proportion coming from distant suburbs – park their cars on nature strips, block roads, show a disregard for road rules and hinder road users. Mornington MP David Morris has called on Roads Minister Luke Donnellan to “deal with this issue before we have an inevitable tragedy”. “VicRoads should undertake the necessary works to resolve the current serious traffic and road safety concerns in that area.” Steve Taylor
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