Workshop to coordinate resources, assets for HPV screening, vaxx this month, says Dr Sim

KUCHING (Aug 3): A workshop will be held this month to coordinate available resources and assets for cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations throughout Sarawak, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian.

He said Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre chief executive officer Prof Dr Ivan Yap, who is in charge of the workshop, would determine how to implement the related programmes efficiently throughout the state.

Dr Sim added that such programmes would need to be well-executed with proper mapping so that they will not only be implemented in certain parts of the state.

“The Rose Foundation coming in, then the National Cancer Society of Malaysia are giving us 50,000 doses (HPV vaccines), so everyone is coming in, with all of these people coming in, we need to do mapping, determining who goes where, what are the issues concerned, in terms of transportation, logistics.

“The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines bought during Covid-19 pandemic – are they sitting around doing nothing? So we deploy them as well.

“Once we can coordinate properly, if (the funds are) not enough, we source them, and the state government is coming to assist because we want to do this for Sarawakians,” he told reporters after launching the ‘Leaving No One Behind – HPV Screening’ event at a hotel here today.

Speaking at the event earlier, Dr Sim said Sarawak aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

He believed that cervical cancer can be eradicated, and as such, it is an investment that would benefit Sarawakian women.

“Throughout Malaysia, Sarawak records the second-highest number of (cervical cancer) cases, and we need the women to undergo tests to ensure treatments can be given.

“That is why it is preventable and can be eliminated,” he said.

Meanwhile, the event saw the presentation of a cheque worth RM650,000 by Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (Liam) to Rose Foundation to assist in reaching out to women potentially infected by the HPV.

The programme is a collaborative effort between the two to eliminate cervical cancer among women aged 30 to 65 in the nation, with a focus on Sarawak.

Also present at the event were Rose Foundation founding trustee Prof Dr Woo Yin Ling and Liam Management committee member Dato Koh Yaw Hui.