Keeping women’s health in check

BUTTERWORTH: The Federal Government has allocated RM20mil for women to undergo three types of screening tests this year.

The three types of examinations comprised subsidised mammogram test (RM11.4mil), Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination programme (RM5mil) and cervical cancer screening pilot programme (RM3.6mil).

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh said all the programmes will be carried out at the Nur Sejahtera Clinic under the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN).

She was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of an MoU for the free mammogram screening programme between the Penang state government and Penang LPPKN at Dewan Pavilion, Pusat Keluarga LPPKN Bertam in Kepala Batas near here yesterday.

Earlier in her speech, Yeoh said Penang recorded the highest number of breast cancer cases among women with 50 cases per 100,000 women.

She said Penang was followed by the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 42 cases per 100,000 women.

“Penang recorded the highest number of breast cancer cases as the women here have high awareness in connection with breast cancers, seeking early treatment in hospitals, clinics, and its related agencies such as LPPKN,” she said.

She praised the joint effort by the state government and LPPKN for their programmes focusing on women’s welfare in Penang and called upon the other states to follow suit.

“We are targeting 47,000 women to undergo the LPPKN subsidised mammogram screening programme who are in the lower income group for this year,” she said.