WellSouth’s breast cancer mobile screening bus to rural Otago and Southland returns – a welcome sight for women in hard-to-reach areas.
The mobile breast screening unit is touring from Oamaru (until 3 March 2026) to Clyde, Balclutha, Gore, and Otautau, before looping back to Oamaru later this year. It’s currently stationed at 4 Frome Street, Oamaru.
While the bus completes its rounds, WellSouth will promote the service and assist the community—especially Māori, Pacific peoples, and those in rural areas—in accessing it.
The Ministry of Health’s Health and Independence Report 2024 states that around 3,600 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in Aotearoa each year, with Māori and Pacific women facing the highest rates.
As of January 2026, screening rates in Otago and Southland reached 68.5% for Māori and 60.5% for Pacific peoples—up from previous years.
According to WellSouth Equity Delivery Programme Lead Jen Lowrey, Māori and Pacific peoples face poorer health and treatment outcomes due to lower participation rates, limited access to screening services, and follow-up care.
“This means there are higher rates of cancer and, as a result, higher death rates in those communities. This is made worse with barriers, including living rurally and, in many cases, the stigma associated with mammography screening,” Lowrey said.
“We are trying to break down those barriers starting with enrolling high-needs women onto the programme, alongside education, information, and our dedicated call centre talking with and supporting women to get to clinics or the bus and get these important checks. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment can save lives and change communities who are losing loved ones.”
While screening mammography doesn’t prevent breast cancer, evidence shows regular checks enable early detection. Breast screening aims to detect tiny cancers before any lump is felt, giving early treatment the best shot at success.