KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 – Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) made significant headway in their recent “If Not Now, When? #endcervicalcancer” campaign, with the goal of eradicating cervical cancer through early detection and improving screening accessibility.
With the support of ROSE Foundation, SJ ECHO, Subang Jaya Police District Headquarters, Subang Jaya City Council, and Klang Hokkien Association, SJMC successfully organised a series of community outreach initiatives, completing over 300 DIY Human Papillomavirus (HPV) screenings for women in Selangor, surpassing their initial target.
Cervical cancer is a significant global health issue for women. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer, resulting in approximately 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths in 2020 globally.
In Malaysia, it is the third most common cancer impacting women, with the percentage of cases detected late increasing yearly.
To combat this, the most effective approach lies in a combination of HPV vaccination and cervical screening, offering the strongest defence against cervical cancer.
It is crucial to raise awareness and encourage women to prioritise their health by taking proactive measures.
“Cervical cancer is often referred to as the ‘silent killer’ since it develops slowly without presenting any warning signs or symptoms. Through our ‘If Not Now, When? #endcervicalcancer’ campaign, we strive to positively educate and impact society by making cervical screening more accessible and acceptable to women, particularly those who may not be fully aware on the impact of the disease.
“As a health care provider, it is our responsibility to contribute towards achieving a cervical cancer-free Malaysia, which entails providing opportunities for screening,” said Bryan Lin, SJMC chief executive officer.
SJMC has extended its impactful initiative to three different locations in Selangor. This includes five People’s Housing Project (PPR) flats located in PJS7, Angsana USJ1, Sri Tanjung USJ16, SS13, and SS19/7 in Subang Jaya, as well as the Hokkien Association in Klang and at the Subang Jaya Police District Headquarters (IPD Subang Jaya).
The initiative kicked off in January this year through a five-day programme, providing self-sampling swabs to women in the Subang Jaya community.
SJMC deployed mobile trucks to each designated community area, ensuring effortless accessibility. Women aged 30 and above who met the eligibility criteria were given instructions to conduct the test independently.
SJMC, together with Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre (BTMC) joined forces with the Hokkien Association Klang through a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The partnership aimed to offer health benefits and discounts to the association’s members, encouraging them to undergo health screenings for improved well-being. The initiative included offering free HPV screenings to the first 100 women.
The community event garnered significant attention and attracted an impressive attendance of more than 100 women who had the opportunity to receive free do-it-yourself (DIY) cervical cancer screening.
The programme specifically targeted the wellbeing of the community, including about 60 police officers and their spouses who actively participated along with about 60 members from the Subang Jaya City Council.
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