KOTA MARUDU: Women’s reproductive health issues, especially cancer, need to be given serious attention, said the Wife of the Sabah Chief Minister, Datin Seri Panglima Datuk Juliah Salag.
According to her, up to 2023, the Sabah State Health Department recorded more than 650 cases of women’s cancer in the state.
This figure shows that breast and cervical cancers are the main contributors, with the majority diagnosed late due to lack of awareness, stigma, and limited access to services,” she said.
Juliah, who is also the President of the Pertubuhan Muafakat Titipan Amal Isteri Wakil Rakyat Sabah (MUTIARA GRS), urged for more community education to empower women in their roles as mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters, who form the backbone of the family institution.
“The use of direct community education approaches such as talks, workshops, and early screenings is very effective in building awareness and trust among rural communities.
We must also recognise that physically and mentally healthy women can shape healthy, harmonious, and productive families.
This aligns with the framework of the National Family Policy and the Malaysia MADANI agenda, which place family wellbeing as the foundation for human and national development.
Therefore, the responsibility to empower women and families cannot be borne by one party alone. It requires synergy among various sectors, including the government, NGOs, communities, and the families themselves,” she said while officiating the Program Santuni Kasih: Technology and Family Values during the launch of the Women’s Reproductive Cancer Awareness Campaign (WCaRe) at Dewan PPR Jaya Kerongkom here on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, she also urged society to view technology as a tool that supports family harmony, rather than one that creates distance.
“The use of technology must be balanced with family values such as love, respect, responsibility, and effective communication among family members. This is the foundation for family resilience in facing the challenges of the digital world.
In today’s era of information explosion and digital transformation, we cannot deny that technology has become part of our daily lives,” she explained.
Juliah added that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) reported in 2023 that the internet penetration rate in Malaysia has reached 97.4 percent, with 99.3 percent of users accessing the internet via smartphones.
“In Sabah, especially in rural areas like Kota Marudu, the increased use of the internet has provided families with opportunities to access education, healthcare services, and economic prospects.
However, it also brings new challenges to family values such as face-to-face communication, time management with family members, and children’s emotional development.
I would like to invite everyone here today, regardless of status, background, or position, to jointly prioritise family values and health awareness in daily life.
Build families that appreciate, support, and care for one another. Use technology as a bridge, not as a wall,” she added.
According to her, the one-day programme themed “Santuni Kasih: Technology and Family Values” is very timely and educative, aimed at guiding society to become wise digital users.
Also present were the Chief Minister’s Political Secretary, Datuk Redonah Bahanda; Director of the National Population and Family Development Board, Shahrian Saharom; and heads of state and federal departments.
