Morrisey announces investment in mobile cancer screenings

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a major investment in mobile cancer screenings Monday in front of Bonnie’s Bus, a mobile mammography program through the WVU Cancer Institute.

Morrisey said a $1.3 million Rural Health Transformation Program award will help replace the current bus, which has been in service since 2017.

The new bus will include Starlink technology and more up-to-date equipment to help rural West Virginians connect with critical care.

“And from all I hear, these are high-quality screenings,” Morrisey said. “You know, we heard about problems last year with some facilities not meeting quality standards. From everything I hear, this has been very done in a high-quality way. We’re excited about that because we can’t afford for people to get wrong information. So, I’m pleased with not only the access, but the quality as well.”

The Bonnie Bus has provided more than 40,000 screenings since 2017 and identified more than 300 instances of cancer.

Morrisey said the new equipment will make more than 150 stops a year throughout the state and will see more than 5,000 patients a year.