The Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Kuching (SCAN) in collaboration with the Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group (SBCSG) recently organised an outreach programme at a 38-door longhouse in Ulu Yong Kapit.
During the programme, SBCSG president Datin Juriah Sulehan led a health screening initiative with the assistance of six nurses from Kapit Health Clinic.
The nurses conducted blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol tests, while Datuk Dr Zulkifli Jantan and Dr Nurdalila Zainal provided personalised diagnoses and general health consultations.
“The women of the longhouse were offered breast health screenings, including clinical breast examinations and the use of a portable handheld ultrasound machine donated by the Church of Latter-Day Saints.
“This specialised diagnosis was performed by Sharifah Ashrina Wan Ali, a breast surgeon from Sarawak General Hospital.
“Among the women screened, two out of 24 were found to have abnormal and suspicious findings, leading to referrals for mammograms and further investigation,” as per a statement on today (Aug 10).
The outreach campaign was officiated by Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Native Law and Customs) Jefferson Jamit Unyat.
During the opening ceremony, he urged villagers to prioritise their health and breast health awareness.
The tuai rumah (headman), Untang Jirau, also expressed concerns about general health issues among the residents.
Veronica Benjah Lunsa, a nurse from SBCSG, encouraged women to overcome any fear or shyness and to check for breast abnormalities, emphasising that early detection of breast cancer saves lives.
The programme not only aimed to provide health screenings but also fostered cultural exchange between the outreach team and the Iban community.
The SCAN team also conducted interviews and captured the living conditions of breast cancer survivors in Kapit District, as part of a larger project to understand local issues related to cancer care.
Through research funded by the Unimas Pilot Grant Scheme, the team conducted interviews with residents of Kapit and Kanowit longhouses, revealing low awareness about cancer as a disease and its treatments.
This research aims to understand the connection between indigenous values and community responses to cancer diagnosis and treatments.
Despite the relatively low turnout, the outreach programme was considered successful in raising cancer awareness and providing vital support to the rural community.
SCAN and SBCSG have been invited to return for a larger-scale health screening and cancer awareness campaign in Kapit early next year.
