Kalsom (seated, fourth from left) with the Orang Asli community and new ambassadors at Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2026 in Alor Gajah. — Bernama
Ten Orang Asli women in Melaka have been appointed as ethnic ambassadors to expand outreach for the Women’s Reproductive Cancer Awareness (WCaRe) Campaign.
Melaka National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) director Suszma Khairitszi Mamat said the ambassadors would act as intermediaries to raise awareness among women in their communities about cervical and breast cancer screening.
“They will receive training and comprehensive information on the WCaRe Campaign and the importance of cancer screening to encourage early detection among women in these communities,” he told Bernama during a Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2026 event held at Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Payung in Alor Gajah.
Appointing ambassadors from specific ethnic groups was crucial, he said, as each community had distinct cultures, languages and beliefs.
He added that trusted representatives could deliver messages more effectively.
The initiative will be expanded in stages to include the Indian, Portuguese, Chetti and Baba Nyonya communities, with a target of appointing 50 ethnic ambassadors across five ethnic groups statewide.
According to LPPKN records, 10,632 women underwent mammogram screenings under its initiatives from 2019 to last year, with 78 testing positive for breast cancer.
During the same period, 4,003 women in Melaka received Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA screening, with 211 found to be HPV-positive.
Also present at the event was Melaka women, family and community development committee chairman Datuk Kalsom Nordin.
