State sets 2030 target to eliminate cervical cancer

KUCHING: Sarawak is determined to make cervical cancer, a preventable disease, to be a thing of the past.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the state targets to achieve this by the year 2030 through vaccination, screening and treatment.

“In Malaysia, cervical cancer is the third most common female cancer, while in Sarawak, it ranks the second highest.

“This is partly due to our vast geographical regions, which often result in late detection, as well as cultural factors.

“So, don’t be ashamed, if tested early, cervical cancer can be cured. That is why it is preventable and can be eliminated. Once it’s eliminated, there is no need to prevent it already,” he said.

He said this after officiating at the launching of the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) with ROSE Foundation Cervical Screening Collaboration: Leaving No One Behind – HPV Screening programme here today (Aug 3). 

Dr Sim, who is also Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister said the state is committed to making sure young girls and women are not left behind in receiving cervical cancer screenings and treatment.

“Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri wants to set up a physical laboratory for cervical cancer screening here.

“Hence, the Sarawak infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) led by its chief executive officer (CEO) Assoc Prof Dr Ivan Yap will conduct a lab or workshop to assess the state’s capabilities and identify areas that need attention.

“The lab will be carried out this month to look into budget matters and determine the resources available and what is still needed,” he said.

He added that the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) will assist Sarawak by providing at least 50,000 doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, thus it is necessary to determine where these vaccines should be distributed.

“Besides that, we also need to identify those who missed the HPV vaccination during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

He said the state needs to move ahead to make sure individuals in the state are free from cervical cancer.

“By 2030, we really don’t want to see any cervical cancer in Sarawak. We are determined to do that because it’s someone’s mother, grandmother, sister, auntie that we want to protect.

“We don’t want to keep on building cancer hospitals because we have so many people waiting. So, we want to eliminate cervical cancer and the state is doing its best to assist,” said Dr Sim.

In February this year, LIAM and NCSM launched the Leaving No One Behind – HPV Immunisation Programme targeting teenage girls from underprivileged communities in the country.

Among those present were LIAM CEO Mark O’Dell, LIAM Management Committee member Datuk Koh Yaw Hui, ROSE Foundation chair Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, and ROSE Foundation founding trustee Prof Dr Woo Yin Ling.

The event also saw LIAM present a mock cheque for RM650,000 to the ROSE Foundation.