KUCHING: Despite their packed work schedule, doctors have been volunteering at Pink & Teal EmpowHer, reaching out to underprivileged women in Sarawak’s rural areas and providing free
cervical cancer screenings.
Never an easy task, but doing what they love through sheer dedication has kept them going for the past 14 months.
Driving home this point, Pink & Teal founder Dr Abigail Susil said there was a dire need to better address cervical cancer.
She pointed out that this outreach programme served as a grassroots platform with the help of volunteer doctors since rudimentary cancer care was scarce in Sarawak.
“Since July last year, we have screened over 1,000 women in rural villages by using the latest and
cheapest method, Acetic Acid, for immediate results.
“So far, we have visited few places in Padawan, Siburan, Tebakang, Dalat and Serian,” she told New Sarawak Tribune recently.
Citing the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) O&G clinic data, she revealed that out of 1,000 women, 22 percent were found positive with cervical cancer at an early stage.
“Early stage has better chance for survival rated at 90 percent, but only if they go for treatment,” she said.
It was reported by the first Malaysian report on Cancer Survival Study (MyScan) that thyroid (82.3 percent), prostate (73 percent), uterus (70.6 percent), female breast cancer (66.8 percent) and large intestine or colon cancer (56.8 percent) were the five types of cancer with the highest survival rate of five years.
The fact that Sarawak recorded the highest rate of women with cervical cancer at 12.1 incidences of cervical cancer per 100,000, it was not a surprise that women in rural areas were mostly affected.
Dr Abigail said cervical cancer was one of the top serial killers among Sarawakian women, despite being the most preventable.
“In Sarawak, many women are embarrassed to examine their private parts. The women also generally put themselves last…they take care of their husband, children.
“There’s the lack of awareness. Later, when they realise that they have cervical cancer at the later stages — either stage three or stage four, the chances of survival is not bright,” she explained.
Dr Abigail is determined to set up a one-stop screen and treat cervical mobile medical unit for
underprivileged women in rural areas.Towards this plan, Dr Abigail and her team initiated the Pink & Teal Women’s Mini Marathon, which is this Sunday, to raise funds.
