For Immediate Release: June 20, 2001

COUNCIL CANDIDATE COMMENDS COUNCIL HEALTH COMMITTEE HEARING ON BREAST CANCER SCREENING AND TESTING NEEDS

Staten Island, N.Y. - 49^th City Council District (North Shore) candidate Debi Rose commended the City Council’s Health Committee hearing today on the need more breast cancer screening and mammograms in the City and on Staten Island.

“I want to commend Chairman Robles, Council Member James Oddo and the other sponsors on the Council Resolution for their attention to this important women’s health care topic,” Ms. Rose stated. “Recent public reports have highlighted the potentially dangerous situation of several month waits for mammograms by private medical and radiology centers on Staten Island,” she continued. “Staten Island is at a distinct disadvantage because there are no public facilities providing breast cancer screening and mammograms, particularly for low-income and communities of color which tend to suffer from a lack of early detection and access to primary care. Therefore I am calling upon the City and Health and Hospital Corporation to expand the breast cancer screening services it provides to Staten Island, including seeking to increase the reimbursement rate for mammograms,” she concluded.

Today’s hearing was in response to Council Resolution 1724 by Victor Robles, Chair of the Committee, Council Member Oddo (R-50^th District) and 30 other sponsors, seeking an oversight hearing on the timely availability of mammograms at Health and Hospital Corporation facilities and all hospitals offering such service.

Ms. Rose has been a leader for woman health care services on Staten Island, as an active member of the American Cancer Society - Women’s Breast Partnership and founder of the Staten Island Black Women’s Health Initiative, a resource service that informs and advises the community on breast cancer and the free health care services available to women.

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