Monday 15 October 2012

FREE MAMMOGRAM FOR MALAYSIAN WOMEN





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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