KENINGAU: Wife of Deputy Chief Minister cum State Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Datin Seri Cecelia Edwin, advised women here to check for breast cancer at public hospitals and clinics.
“Early detection and treatment can help save lives,” she said while officiating at the Public Talk and Workshop for Breast Cancer Patients at the Sabah Handicraft Center hall here on Saturday.
The programme is jointly organised by the National Population and Development Board (LPPKN), Pink Ribbon Wellness (L) Foundation Kuala Lumpur and Kinabalu Pink Ribbon Sabah.
“It is more important for every woman, regardless of age, in the State, especially in this district, to do examination and get early treatment at hospitals and health clinics available in their respective places,” she said.
She thanked the National Population and Development Board (LPPKN), Pink Ribbon Wellness (L) Foundation Kuala Lumpur, Kinabalu Pink Ribbon Sabah, the doctors and staff of the breast clinic, Queen 2 Hospital Kota Kinabalu for their cooperation in making the programme a success.
Earlier, Kinabalu Pink Ribbon President Laura Bazan said her group is more focused on community service, specifically for women in the Keningau district, with the aim of educating and providing breast health awareness and subsequently conducting examinations.
According to statistics, she said, on the whole, many breast cancer patients are the result of late diagnosis and detection received.
“With the Advanced Portable Ultrasound Machine which has been obtained through fundraising by Kinabalu Pink Ribbon in October 2021, this machine is able to detect any suspicious lumps and then the target biopsy can be done by a physician in the near future, without waiting for an appointment time,” she said.
Laura also thanked the collaboration with Pink Ribbon Wellness Foundation Kuala Lumpur to deliver talks related to breast cancer for the public in the district and followed by a workshop specifically for breast cancer patients.
“The breast cancer awareness campaign that had been planned for 10 districts in Sabah include Tuaran, Kota Belud, Keningau, Sipitang, Pitas, Ranau, Papar, Kudat, Beaufort and Kota Kinabalu,” she said.
Laura also thanked Cecilia, LPPKN, National Cancer Council (Makna), Sabah Breast Cancer Society and all those directly and indirectly involved in making the event a success.
Also present at the event were the Patron of Pink Ribbon Wellness Foundation Kuala Lumpur, Puan Sri Maniseh Adam, District Officer Walter Kenson, Consultant Breast Surgeon, Founder and Chairman of Pink Ribbon Wellness Foundation, Datuk Dr Devanand, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pink Ribbon Wellness Foundation, Yong Lee Lee, Founder of Kinabalu Pink Ribbon, Datin Lucilla Pang, Acting Director Sabah LPPKN, Suszuma Khairitzi Mamat, Makna Sabah Medical Officer, Dr Hanisah Mohd Siddig and Head of Department and Consultant for Breast Surgery & Endokr-in, Queen Elizabeth 2 Hospital, Kota Kinabalu and Sabah Breast Cancer Society Chairperson, Dr Siti Zubaidah Sharif.
