Put aside shyness and fear of health screening

IPOH, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Women in the state are urged to put aside their shyness and fear of health screening, especially in relation to cancer, said the state’s Women and Family Development, Character Development, and Community Welfare Committee chairman Wong May Ing.

She said although various efforts were made by the government or certain parties to raise women's awareness on the matter, it was still not sufficient enough to be an eye-opener, especially those living in the rural area.

Taking, for instance, the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) mobile clinics, Wong said the public response to the facility was still low.

“I was told that the mobile clinics have been operating since 2007 but the public response, especially among women in rural areas to undergo the cancer screening tests are still low.

“They are still embarrassed to be examined as it involves the private part,” she told the press after launching the ‘Jom Sihat dan Cantik Karnival’ here today.

Hence, Wong called for the public especially women, to fully utilise the services that would be beneficial for them.

“Charges levied by LPPKN are cheap compared to private clinics or hospitals, to illustrate the charge for a pap smear testing is only RM20, while the charge for the contraceptive pill is as low as RM5,” he said.

The one-day carnival was organised by the Women's Affairs Bureau of the staff club of the Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak to raise social awareness and health-related knowledge sharing among women.

-- BERNAMA