MOH, ROSE FOUNDATION STRENGTHEN CERVICAL CANCER ELIMINATION EFFORTS WITH MOU

PUTRAJAYA, March 14 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Health (MOH) expects a decline in cervical cancer cases among Malaysian women, through a public-private partnership under the Cervical Cancer Elimination programme, in collaboration with the ROSE Foundation.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the effort was part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed today, marking an important step in strengthening strategic collaboration to increase public awareness, strengthen the healthcare system, and expand access to early cervical cancer detection services.

“We expect a reduction in cases based on MOH data, which already indicates a downward trend. With this public-private partnership, I am confident that the decline will accelerate, and public awareness will also improve.

"Most importantly, this initiative highlights the dedication of NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and private entities in advocating for this cause, with great care and commitment,” he said, at the signing ceremony for the public-private partnership MoU for the Cervical Cancer Elimination programme, between MOH and the ROSE Foundation.

The ROSE Foundation (Removing Obstacles to Cervical Screening) is a charitable organisation dedicated to the prevention and control of cervical cancer in Malaysia.

Earlier in his speech, Lukanisman highlighted that the latest National Cancer Registry statistics indicate a decline in cervical cancer cases in Malaysia, with an incidence rate of 6.0 cases per 100,000 women from 2017 to 2021, compared with 6.2 cases recorded between 2012 and 2016.

More notably, he said cervical cancer is no longer among the 10 most common cancers in Malaysia, having dropped to 11th place.

Lukanisman also said that the MOH has developed the Action Plan Towards The Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Malaysia 2021-2030, with clinical and public health experts, in line with the global strategy outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“It is time for us to elevate the well-being of Malaysians, particularly women, by adopting proactive, integrated, and inclusive strategies to eliminate cervical cancer,” he said.

As part of this collaboration, the ROSE Foundation will provide free HPV self-screening kits to women in need.

Under this MoU, an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 HPV self-screening kits will be distributed annually at selected health clinics, identified jointly by the MOH and the ROSE Foundation.

This initiative aims to ensure accessible and widespread screening, minimising logistical barriers for the target group.

Additionally, the MoU encompasses efforts to enhance the competence and capacity of healthcare professionals, through training and workshops jointly organised by both parties.

The training will focus on handling HPV self-screening kits, utilising the ROSE Foundation’s digital registration system, and strengthening colposcopy skills for medical specialists.

-- BERNAMA