IPOH: Modesty is keeping rural women from going for mammograms even when they are eligible for the state subsidy, says Datuk Dr Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin.

       The Perak women development, family and social welfare committee chairman said the subsidy, provided by the state government since 2007, was aimed at encouraging women to undergo screening for early detection of breast cancer.

       Based on statistics by the Perak National Population and Family Development Board, 23,218 women were registered for the programme, but only 19,828 of them went for the tests between 2013 and September 2019.

       “For 2021, a total of 1,031 women were registered and only 880 went for the test. Women should not be shy to go for the test as it can help save their lives,” she said after opening a public talk and workshop for breast cancer patients here yesterday.

       The programme was organised by the Pink Ribbon Wellness Foundation (PRWF) and the Pink Champion Association of Perak.

       Dr Wan Norashikin said there were six medical centres in the state that had facilities for the mammogram tests, among them in Ipoh, Taiping and Teluk Intan.

       She said that in 2020, the Perak government allocated RM443,500 for the mammogram subsidy programme.

       PRWF patron Puan Sri Maniseh Adam said the foundation would provide free external breast prosthesis worth RM250 to 100 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, especially those living in the rural areas.

       “Besides that, PRWF is also working with Beacon Hospital to provide free chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer patients.

       “The treatment is expected to cost between RM10,000 and RM30,000 and for a start we are targeting 30 patients,” she added. — Bernama