Free HPV screening for women in five districts

PENAMPANG: Five hundred women are offered to undergo free HPV (Human Papillomavirus) testing through self-sampling.

This program is a collaboration with the ROSE Foundation and Wanita DAP Sabah which targets the districts of Darau, Kapayan, Keningau, Kemabong and Tulid from May 10 to 12.

“The free screening tests are offered to women, especially the B40 group who meet certain criteria.

“Eligible to undergo the HPV tests are women aged 30-65 years, who have never undergone hysterectomy, no heavy menstrual flow on the day of screening, are not pregnant and have never undergone an HPV test in the past five years,” said Kapayan assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang,

“This initiative is part of my commitment to a healthy life, and especially so women can serve well and live healthily.

“I would also like to invite all women in the Kota Kinabalu and Penampang areas or those nearby to attend the HPV screening programme on May 10,” said Jannie in a statement on Thursday.

She said the morning programme on May 10 will be held at Taman Blok B, Taman Puri Warisan Kalansanan, Inanam, Darau from 8am until 12pm, and in the evening at Dewan Othman Peter Andu Taman Mat Salleh, Kota Kinabalu Prison Quarters from 2pm until 5pm.

“On May 11, we will be in Dewan Serbaguna KBS Keningau in the morning, and then at Rumah Kebudayaan Kg Sugiang Tengah, Kemabong Tenom in the afternoon.”

Jannie added two doctors from the ROSE Foundation, an NGO that has carried out many similar activities, will be overseeing the programme with women leaders in the respective areas”.

“The last day, on May 12, we will conduct the HPV screening in Dewan Kampung Magatang and Dewan Kampung Lalapakon in the Tulid area.

“Follow-up treatment at a nearby hospital will be offered to anyone who is found positive in the screening results.

“This follow-up was planned from the beginning and hospitals in the areas involved are also aware and support the initiative.

“I hope women won’t hesitate to come for this free screening because it’s about our health,” she said.