Jaime Ferreira, treasurer of the AOA, told The Portugal News the new mobile unit, run by the association, “is a great step for the AOA in favour of the women and families of the Algarve.”
He explained that since 2015 the AOA has been renewing all of its breast cancer screening equipment, and that “this new unit is equipped with the best breast cancer screening technology, the first with tomosynthesis in the country, which will allow a better diagnosis with lower radiation.”
In 2015, the association revamped all of its servers and network in preparation for the new Mobile Unit, to a cost of around €75,000.
Last year, it launched a public tender to acquire the new unit, with a value of close to €370,000.
“We had direct support from Rotary International Estoi Palace, and all the Rotarians of the Algarve, who raised €63,037 in our favour over the last four years”, Mr. Ferreira explained, adding, “Faro council also contributed directly with € 10,000, but of course we must also thank our partners, volunteers and institutions that year after year support us and allow us to finish projects like these
successfully.”
Dr. Paulo Morgado, head of the ARS Algarve regional health board, during his speech at last week’s unveiling ceremony, also thanked the Rotary Club for its role in helping buy the new unit.
He also stressed the “essential role of the Algarve Oncology Association and its founder Dr. Santos Pereira for its vision of the future” and for its collaboration in recent years with ARS Algarve, in the development of the Breast Cancer Screening program, “which has allowed us to achieve excellent rates and contributed to the significant improvement of early detection of cancers and increasing the effectiveness of their treatment.”
The mobile unit is currently in Vila Real de Santo António, where it will remain until October, before moving on to Tavira.