Khairy: Fighting cancer back in focus after Covid-19 pandemic under control

KUALA LUMPUR: We will focus on the fight against cancer when the Covid-19 pandemic is under control, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

In his speech at the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) appreciation dinner, the Health Minister said that battling cancer will be a main focus again when the Covid-19 pandemic was under control.

“Once we are done with this pandemic or when it is controlled, the ministry and NCSM will have to get back to the business of fighting cancer. I give my full commitment to NCSM and we will put the fight against cancer, front and centre,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, he gave thanks to NCSM volunteers for helping the government in funnelling Covid-19 vaccines to those who could not bring themselves to vaccination centres.

He added that volunteers had helped in ensuring those with cancer and other high-risk individuals received their jabs through house visits.

Meanwhile, NCSM managing director Dr M. Murallitharan, in his opening remarks, said that NCSM could not sit idle when the country was facing the public health crisis.

“We worked hard in finding initiatives that could assist the Health Ministry and the government in combating Covid-19, and when the vaccination drive started, we activated all members and volunteers to assist the nationwide effort,” he said.

During the dinner, the NCSM also launched a coffee table book, titled "From Cancer to Covid: How the National Cancer Society Malaysia Supported Malaysian Covid-19 Vaccination Efforts".

The launch of the book was graced by the guest-of-honour, Perak Ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.