SUBSIDY.....Rosni
Rakiman filling up a mammogram subsidy test form provided by the National
Population and Family Development Board.
By : FIZAH YUSOF
IT IS A good news for all
women aged 40 and above in Malaysia when the Prime Minister Najib Razak
announced free mammogram screening in 2013 Budget recently.
The allocation of RM25
million was estimated to benefit 100,000 women aged 40 and above across the
country. He said it was part of the RM50 million allocation to support women
who play multiple roles in raising their families and contributing towards the
economic development of the nation.
The mammogram subsidy
programme was started in May 2007. It is a government move to promote the early
detection of breast cancer.
The program focuses
exclusively on women aged 40 to 70 years old who are considered to be in the
high risk group of breast cancer. Under the programme they are eligible to get
the mammogram test in private medical centres registered under the National
Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN).
Welcoming the initiative,
Deputy Health Minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said women across the nation
should grab this opportunity to undergo free screening test.
"I hope women
especially in Sabah would take this initiative as it is beneficial to
them." She advised them to undergo mammogram inspection immediately for
early detection.
"One out of 20
Malaysian women aged above 40 have high risk of breast cancer, so it is
important for them to get the mammogram test," she said.
Rosni Rakiman, 53, a mother
to three daughters agreed whole-eartedly. She reckoned it was important to get
the mammogram test annually.
"Prevention is better
than cure. It is important for us to take car of our health and this is for our
own good," she said.
"Our body and health is
our own responsibility, " she added.
Women in Sabah can apply for
the subsidy at any Nur Sejahtera Clinic in Sabah.
There are 3 Nur Sejahtera
Clinics in Sabah; one in Api-Api Centre, Kota Kinabalu, one in Sandakan and one
Semporna. (Insight Sabah)
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