KUCHING: Malaysian women seem to lose their fight in the battle against cervical cancer as 600 patients were estimated dying from it annually.
Regardless of wide efforts in raising awareness about cervical cancer and the importance of screening, it is still one of the top killers among Malaysian women despite being the most preventable disease.
Incidence rate of Malaysian women with cervical cancer in 2016 has drastically increased from 0.0068 per cent in 2011, to 0.02 per cent, based on the data from Health Ministry.
Findings by health and morbidity survey further revealed only 47.3 per cent of women had performed pap smear screening although free smear test or cervical screening awareness has been roaring.
According to, government medical officer Dr Siti Kamilah Wahab, the lack of awareness on the importance of prevention measures as well as the negative perception associated with pap smear test or cervical screening are profound to their reluctance.
The 2014 National Population and Family Population survey found that those aged 15 to 29 are at the lowest in performing pap smear test, with 47.1 per cent not having a smear test within its timeframe.
“We encourage all women to visit any health centre for more information. Those who live nearby our clinic here at 10th Mile, we would like to invite them to come to our clinic this Saturday as we will hold talk regarding cervical cancer and measures that can be taken as prevention,” she advised.
