The Minister of Pacific Island Affairs,Luamanavao Winnie Laban, and the Associate Minister of Health have welcomed news that there's been an increase in the number of Pacific women screened for breast cancer in New Zealand
The associate health minister, Steve Chadwick, says over the past two years 19-hundred more Pacific women have been screened, which is a nine-percent increase since 2006.
Luamanavao, who herself is recovering from breast cancer, says she is pleased with the latest result which shows that Pacific women are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of regular breast screening.
She says Pacific women are often frightened, shy and private about their bodies, but as they are 20 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than other New Zealand women it's vital more Pacific women are screened.
