Miri Hospital holds cervical cancer awareness campaign
MIRI: Women hold many roles in life — as mothers, wives and daughters among them — and when they are busy tackling their daily routines, they may at times, neglect their own health.
The rising number of cervical cancer cases puts the disease as the second most common form of cancer among women in Malaysia— hence, it is time for women to take proper care of their cervical health.
On Saturday, Miri Hospital held a one- day Cervical Cancer Awareness campaign at Bintang Megamall.
The event which involved an exhibition by the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Miri Hospital, the Miri Blood Bank and Klinik Nur Sejahtera attracted the attention of many curious members of the public.
“Our aims for the event were to create awareness among the public regarding cervical cancer, risk factors and also prevention; the information was on full display at the exhibition,” Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong said at the event.
The cause and risk factors for cervical cancer are said to include human papillomavirus ( HPV) infection, having many sexual partners, smoking, taking birth control pills, and early sexual contact.
One detection method for cervical cancer is frequent pap smears or pap tests
Our aims for the event were to create awareness among the public regarding cervical cancer, risk factors and also prevention; the information was on full display at the exhibition. Dr Jack Wong, Miri Hospital director
to test for the presence of precancerous or cancerous cells on the cervix.
For women aged 21 to 29, it is advisable for them to undergo a pap test every three years. For women aged between 30 and 65, they are encouraged to either undergo a pap smear with or without HPV screening to determine their cervical health.
Free HPV vaccines have been provided to females born between 1990 and 1996 at government hospitals and clinics.