Canterbury health workers celebrated the launch of the national bowel screening programme in the region at Christchurch s Waipapa Hospital on Tuesday to raise awareness of the free service. Chalmers-Watson said just under 60 per cent of people offered the test had accepted it. The international target for screening participation was 60 per cent. “Through screening, we’re detecting people [with cancer] who had no symptoms – so the programme is already saving lives.”
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/Stuff
Dr Teresa Chalmers-Watson, Canterbury DHB clinical lead, celebrates the launch of the Canterbury national bowel screening programme at Waipapa on Tuesday. Ōtautahi Māori health group Manawhenua Ki Waitaha representative Wendy Dallas-Katoa said the age of participation for Māori should have been lowered to 50 as there was clear evidence Māori were more likely to be diagnosed at a late stage and die from the disease.