• 6/21/2007
  • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • staff
  • Vancouver Sun (www.canada.com/vancouversun)

The PHS Community Dental Clinic on the Downtown Eastside received a $280,000 grant from the province Tuesday to support screening for oral cancer.

The money, presented by Community Services Minister Ida Chong, will also support the clinic’s work to help people quit smoking and provide a healthy nutrition program.

Downtown Eastside residents are 60 times more likely to test positive for oral cancer than the general population. If detected early, oral cancer has an 80-per-cent survival rate.

The grant will allow the PHS Dental Clinic to hire additional dentist time and clear a backlog of patients.