BY JACINTHA JOLENE & SHAIK SYAIFUL
KUCHING: Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Kuching (SCAN) received a donation of two portable ultrasound machines for breast cancer outreach programme from Latter Day Saints.
Present to receive the equipment from Elder Rodger Baer of Latter Day Saints was SCAN’s advisor, Datin Dayang Mariani Abang Zain at the Centre of Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group (SBCSG), here, yesterday.
According to Dayang Mariani, SCAN will commence its outreach programme in December and will continue the following year and hoping to reach the marginalised population in the rural areas.
“The outreach programme is made possible through funding from the Union of International Cancer Control (UICC).
“Through this outreach programme, we hope to create awareness and the importance of early screening to the marginalised group,” said Dayang Mariani.
She also expressed her gratitude to Latter Day Saints for their generosity in helping with the outreach programme and will be collaborating with SBCSG.
Meanwhile, SBCSG’s president Datin Juriah Salehan said she is looking forward to working together with SCAN so that more people will be able to have access to early screening and better chance of survival.
“With the help of the portable ultrasound, we hope to reach out to more rural communities and to provide timely and more precise screening.
“Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia with only one hospital equipped with complete cancer care.
“It is our duty as patient organisations to make sure that no one is left behind,” said Juriah.
Up to date, SBCSG has screened over 1,000 women covering 21 rural villages and 18 ethnic groups over a span of 10 years.
The method used was clinical breast examination conducted by volunteers and members of the society.
Also present were president of SCAN Chris Cheng and Dr Sharifah Ashrina Wan Ali of Sarawak General Hospital.
