KAPIT – There are still a few women in Sarawak who are embarrassed or afraid to undergo a human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA screening test to detect cervical cancer even though it is offered free of charge at the Nur Sejahtera Clinic of the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN).
LPPKN Sarawak’s Clinical Head, Dr Alina Ali said taking into account the geographical factors and the size of the state, her side also faces challenges in mobilizing efforts to implement HPV DNA self-tests, especially in rural and inland areas.
“Awareness in this state is at a good level, but there are still some of those who are eligible to undergo this test who say they are not ready and are afraid or would rather not know their health status.
“The target for the people of Sarawak is 30,000 HPV DNA tests for this year, and we are working with the Sarawak State Health Department to achieve that goal.
“Until the middle of this month, we have reached 12,000 to 13,000 tests,” he said when met Named at the Happy Family Love Program at the Kapit Malay Community Hall in Kapit.
He said the LPPKN actively held an awareness program to teach Malaysian women how to undergo the test, as well as explain the difference between the HPV DNA test, the pap smear screening test and the HPV vaccine injection to the public.
“The HPV DNA test is painless and easy to do yourself, just like we do the detection test for COVID-19, but for HPV we do the detection test in the vagina and it needs to be done every five years, while for those who are positive for HPV, it is periodically, which is six months to a year once,” he said.
The HPV DNA screening initiative is provided free of charge for female citizens or permanent residents aged 30 to 65 years.
As of August 20, a total of 139,293 women nationwide have benefited from the screening program since it was introduced in 2019.
Based on 31,728 screenings carried out in Sarawak, a total of 2,132 HPV positive cases were detected, while 46 cases were confirmed as pre-cancer and five cases of cervical cancer.
The Kasih Keluarga Ceria program is organized in conjunction with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development’s 2024 Kembara Kasih throughout Sarawak from 14 to 21 September. – Named