Bonita Donates Digital Mammography Unit To Gibraltar Health Authority

Published 09-29-08

Submitted by Bonita Trust, The

GIBRALTAR. - September 29, 2008 - Gibraltar-based Bonita Trust today announced a large donation to the Gibraltar Health Authority to purchase a new Direct Digital Mammography Unit which will allow the department to achieve high-resolution digital images and therefore greatly advance the diagnostic facilities. Bonita's contribution sits alongside renewed commitments from the Gibraltar Health Authority to provide an annual Screening Programme for women between 40 and 49, a biennial programme for women aged 50 and 59, and voluntary access for women over 75.

On behalf of the Government of Gibraltar, Minister for Health, Yvette del Agua said:

"The new digital mammography unit is a very important piece of equipment, which along with other measures that are in the process of being implemented, will allow the GHA to offer a structured breast cancer screening programme. This is great news for the women of Gibraltar. It will provide improved breast imaging, which will allow detection of smaller lesions, with results being made available to our breast service almost immediately. The installation of this Unit will serve to improve even further the already very successful one stop breast clinic services that the GHA currently offers."Digital images produced by the new Direct Digital Unit are much clearer than those produced by existing equipment, with higher contrast, allowing early cancers and micro-calcification to be more easily detected and will reduce the incidence of false positives/negatives.

Isobel Ellul-Hammond, Chairman of Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar said:

"We have always been determined that a Breast Screening Programme in Gibraltar should start without delay. We believe having the best and latest Mammography scanning equipment from the very start of the Screening Programme is essential to its success and we are hopeful the Programme will start before the end of the year. Bonita's donation has given Gibraltar the technology to be at the forefront of cancer treatment and, with this donation, has made a huge contribution to the Gibraltar community."The Bonita Trust was established in Gibraltar in 2004 and aims to make a positive contribution to the Gibraltar community. Attending a dinner marking Bonita's fourth anniversary, Ruth Parasol "“ DeLeon, Advisor to The Bonita Trust said:"Bonita is committed to Gibraltar and to making a contribution to the community here. I am delighted that Bonita is once again working in close partnership with the Gibraltar Health Authority to provide much-needed equipment that will improve the lives and well-being of patients in Gibraltar."At the anniversary dinner, Rt. Hon. E M Britto, Minister for the Environment and Tourism, spoke on behalf of the Government. He welcomed this important donation and the continued partnership between the Government of Gibraltar and The Bonita Trust.

About Digital Mammography:

The Direct Digital Unit produces higher quality imaging of breasts with implants reducing the need for higher dosages of radiation that would be needed with existing (CR and ultrasound) equipment.
Images are produced quicker than existing scanners and can be manipulated by radiologists reducing the need for repeat mammograms.
State-of-the-art technology means the scanner is less likely to need upgrading and is compatible with existing digital radiographic equipment at St Bernard's Hospital.

About The Bonita Trust

The Bonita Trust was founded in 2004, under Gibraltar law, as an independent philanthropic trust by a subsidiary of PartyGaming Plc., whose then principals were Ruth Parasol, Anurag Dikshit, Vikrant Bhargava, and Russ DeLeon prior to the company’s London Stock Exchange flotation in June 2005. Bonita was created to give back to the communities in which they, the company, and its staff live and work, past and present.

Bonita focuses the majority of its grant-making in five geographies: the United Kingdom, India, Israel, Bulgaria and Gibraltar and is also interested in answering some of the key global challenges facing society.

Most recently, Bonita was recognised by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust which awarded Bonita the Group Heritage Award in recognition of the contributions made towards the protection of Gibraltar's heritage. Bonita has also supported health and education projects in Gibraltar, India, and Israel and will continue to expand its grant-making in coming years.

As an independent philanthropic trust, Bonita is managed by a professional Trustee, who is advised by the International Advisory Board.

More information on Bonita and some details of its work to date can be found at:www.bonitatrust.org

Bonita Trust, The

The Bonita Trust was founded in 2004. Bonita's endowment results from a personal commitment by its principals to help communities address some of the important health and education challenges facing them, leveraging new technologies and Internet-based solutions. Based in Gibraltar, the Bonita Trust is committed to enriching the Gibraltar community through a programme of endowments to educational, cultural, health and community projects. In addition, the Bonita Trust funds projects internationally with three main fields of emphasis: 1. Prevention and Treatment - we have a deep desire to help tackle some of the World's health challenges; 2. Enterprise and Education - extending access to education through technology and the Internet and developing and supporting the emergence of women entrepreneurs; 3. Culture and Heritage - building on Bonita's contribution to protecting Gibraltar’s heritage and culture. Reflecting its heritage, Bonita focuses on programmes that use technology and the Internet to deliver their benefits to communities. In whatever we do, we are committed to making a tangible impact at the community level.

Bonita Donates Digital Mammography Unit To Gibraltar Health Authority

Bonita Donates Digital Mammography Unit To Gibraltar Health Authority

Bonita Trust, The

Bonita Trust, The

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