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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 6 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 2180 ..


are returned. This is because syringes that are recovered are not only syringes that have been dispensed from a Needle and Syringe Program but may include any injecting equipment from the broader community. Syringes that have been disposed of correctly are weighed and through this figure the number of returns are made. Therefore the approximate figure for recovery of syringes that are disposed of appropriately for the period 2001-2002, based upon weight is 785,580.

3) During 2001-2002 the City rangers and other contractors collected 5,558 inappropriately disposed of syringes.

4) The following information details geographic areas in the ACT that have the highest rates of inappropriately disposed of syringes for the period of 2001-2002:

City - 500-811

Belconnen - 300-500

Braddon - 100-300

Breast screening

(Question No 649)

Mrs Burke

asked the Minister for Health, upon notice:

In relation to the breast screening program:

(1) How many breasts screens were conducted during 2002 and what percentage of women in the recommended screening age group does this represent.

(2) What percentage of indigenous women in the recommended screening age group are represented.

(3) Has a target been established for how many women or a percentage of women the unit would like to test each year, if so, what are the target details, if not, why not.

(4) What specific efforts is the unit taking to improve the percentage of indigenous women undertaking breast cancer screening?

(5) Are there any efforts under way to improve the percentage of women from non-English speaking backgrounds that undertake breast screening.

Mr Corbell

: The answer to the member's question is:

(1) 11799 ACT women were screened during the 2002 calendar year including 9661 women aged 50-69 years. The two year (from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2002) screening participation rate for women in the target group was 59.56%. The national target for this age group is 70%.

(2) BreastScreen ACT screened 44 indigenous women aged 50-69 years in the two year period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001 and this represents a 50% participation rate.

(3) BreastScreen ACT is endeavoring to meet the national two yearly participation rates of 70% of women aged 50-69 years. This requires the unit to screen about 10,444 women in this age group in 2003-04 and to increase screening by about 500 women per year for


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