IPOH: Women, especially those in the rural areas, do not go for mammogram tests, even though their names have been registered for the purpose, mainly because they are shy, said Perak Social Welfare, Women and Family Development Committee chairman Datuk Dr Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin.

She said the mammogram subsidy programme carried out by the government since 2007 was aimed at encouraging women to undergo the test for early detection of breast cancer.

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

"For 2021, a total of 1,031 women were registered and only 880 went for the test. Women should noty be shy to go for the test as it can help save their lives," she told a press conference after opening a public talk and workshop for breast cancer patients here today.

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 centers 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.

Meanwhile, 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, to help improve the quality of their life.]

"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