MOSTI distributed 700 devices for detecting cervical cancer - Dr Abu Bakar

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) will distribute 700 Cervisafe, a self-sampling device for detecting cervical cancer, to the public under a RM300,000 MOSTI Social Innovation (MSI) allocation.

MOSTI Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said the allocation was channelled to the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), which is the implementing agency for the development of technology and innovation-based projects.

He said through the allocation, Cervisafe, which is manufactured by LaDIY Healthcare Sdn Bhd in collaboration with the Universiti Putra Malaysia Cancer Resource & Education Centre (CaRE), will be used to carry out a cervical cancer health awareness programme.

"This device costs RM300 but we will distribute it free of charge to women to help them detect cervical cancer at an early stage. We will distribute the self-sampling tool at about 10 locations nationwide in stages and Melaka is the sixth location and four other locations include Kota Bharu and Johor," he told reporters after launching the MSI Cervisafe programme here today.

Also present were MTDC chief executive officer Datuk Norhalim Yunus, UPM CaRE director Prof Datin Dr Rozi Mahmud and LaDIY Healthcare Sdn Bhd director Romli Isaac.

Meanwhile, Norhalim said MTDC co-operated with community representatives or non-governmental organisations to distribute the Cervisafe sets to women groups in selected locations.

He said in Melaka, 85 sets of Cervisafe were specially allocated for women in the Tangga Batu Parliamentary Constituency.

Romli said the device is the first to be produced in the country and has entered the international market, namely, in South Africa, while two other countries which are expected to be successfully penetrated are Turkey and Indonesia.

He said the tool is easy to operate and affordable compared to charges for inspections especially in private hospitals at prices ranging from RM700 to RM1,200.

"To date more than 2,000 sets of ''Cervisafe'' have been sold in the local market and also internationally and we expect 100,000 sets to be sold in the Indonesian market if we are successful in penetrating the market there in July," he said.

In the meantime, Rozi said the research for the development of the device started in 2013 involving several UPM researchers.