It was ribbon cutting time at Chilliwack General Hospital on Monday night October 23, 2023 as area Lions Clubs got together to donate $409,400 towards a suite of three state-of-the-art mammography machines. Pictured are (from left} Liz Harris, executive director of the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation, project chair Bruce Bennewith, Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove and Allan Hunt, Past International Lions Director. (Ken Goudswaard/Chilliwack Progress).
Chilliwack and area Lions clubs, in partnership with Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation, are providing Chilliwack General Hospital with a suite of three state-of-the-art mammography machines. This equipment will not merely update but greatly enhance the efficiency of a hospital mammography department currently serving an estimated 70,000+ people. Dogwood Monarch Lions, Mount Cheam Lions Charitable Society, Chilliwack Lions Club, Steller's Jay Lions, Agassiz-Harrison Lions, and Hope Lions have all teamed up to donate over $409,400 for the project. $129,800 of this was obtained through a grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation.
One of the state-of-the-art mammography machines recently purchased through a generous donation by six area Lions Clubs. (Ken Goudswaard/Chilliwack Progress)
In Canada breast cancer kills an average of 15 women each day. Technologically advanced machines such as those purchased play a vital role in the early detection and treatment needed to reduce those numbers. Their machine-to-machine compatibilities enable them to all operate in the same vicinity, an improvement over older departmental set-ups that speeds the process and increases the number of daily procedures.
They are also designed to be less physically intrusive to patients than older devices. Combined with improved accuracy of diagnoses (obtained through enhanced stereographic imaging) and an effective tissue retrieval system, these units provide a seamless and efficient transition from screening to diagnosis to biopsy.
"We as Lions saw this project as an opportunity to make both an immediate and lasting impact on the community" said project chair Bruce Bennewith. "Machines such as these are the envy of any hospital mammography department and should serve Chilliwack and its rising population well for many years to come."
When they needed to replace Chilliwack General Hospitals outdated mammography equipment. The 4 Chilliwack Lions Clubs - Chilliwack, Mt Cheam, Dogwood Monarch and Stellers Jay, Agassiz-Harrison and Hope Lions came together to purchase a state of the art, mammography suite at a cost of $409,400.00, $129,000.00 of which was a grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation. The three new machines will serve 70,000+ people in Chilliwack and surrounding community well into the future. The computerized cutting-edge machines communicate with each other throughout the process. In one visit a patient can go from screening, to diagnosis and finally biopsy if needed. Wait times are shortened, diagnoses are more accurate and biopsies more precise and less invasive for the patient. This means more patients can be served and earlier diagnoses and treatment will result. Lions from the contributing Clubs, Fraser Health officials and Mayor Popov will be in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony October 23, 2023 at 6pm.
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