Our initial quest was to “convince” our Guest of Honour, YB Dato’ Dr Chua Jui Meng to agree to officiate at the Launch. Knowing that this was subject to matters of national interest taking precedence, we were pleasantly surprised that we received a positive response to our request fairly soon after we sent in our letter to YB Dato’ Chua. We thank YB Dato’ Chua for allocating time to our cause! 

As the date approached, the pace became more hectic as more and more items had to be confirmed and coordinated. We wish to commend and thank the Breast Cancer Welfare Association for showing up in full force and also for their exhibits; Medisia Sdn Bhd for their exhibits on breast prostheses and aids in the post mastectomy/breast surgery patient; National Cancer Society (Dr Saunthari Dharmalingam) for setting up a registration counter for the Subsidised Mammogram programme and to Dr Yun Sii Ing’s team from Hospital Kuala Lumpur for their efforts in putting up the Breast Cancer exhibits, as well as coordinating the caterers, fixtures, ushers and other small but nonetheless important matters. 

Several visits to the Pusat Darah Negara Auditorium were made prior to the Launch, including a full rehearsal a week before D-day. There was some anxiety as the overhead LCD projector had been sent for repairs and was not back in time for rehearsal. In fact, it was re-installed only 2 days before D-day! We had decided to do an “electronic” launch gambit as this was more economical and less wasteful. That meant, a properly working LCD was crucial. We thank Dr Yasmin Ayob, Director of the Pusat Darah Negara for first giving us permission to use the Pusat Darah Negara for the launch; En.Latif, En Izlan and the team from Pusat Darah Negara for helping us with the audiovisual matters as well as other matters related to the launch.  

The pleasant headaches were having to deal with and coordinate relatively “late” but very significant donations from first Johnson & Johnson (RM100,000.00) and then, Meditel Electronics Sdn Bhd (RM30,000.00). Mock cheques were made so that the donor companies would be given the necessary recognition for their contributions to our MMA Foundation Radiology Fund. They were responsible for doubling the number of women originally targeted for the Mammogram Subsidy Programme. 

While all this was happening, there was much ado over the Criteria and Procedures for the Central Hotline in the Klang Valley and also for the Mammography Service Providers.

We also were very fortunate to have no trouble at all with our invitations to speakers for our Public Forum after the Launch in Kuala Lumpur. We thank Prof Dr A. Zulfiqar, a professor and consultant radiologist, Dato’ Dr Suseela Nair, a breast surgeon, Ms L. Mageswary, a dietician and Ms Ranjit Kaur, a breast cancer survivor for sacrificing their time to educate others on Breast Cancer and Early Detection. 

There were also discussions with printers and also our graphics designer Daniel Ang of Daniel Designs. Special rates were given for our community project and a logo for the Breast Campaign was born. Stickers were printed for its versatility. Posters and leaflets were printed for the campaign. To add to this effort, Johnson & Johnson printed posters on the breast and it’s disorders as well as Breast Care Recorders and door knobs with self breast examination tips on it as a handy reminder to all to perform self breast examination on a monthly and regular basis. 

We had a very hard working Kota Baru team, led by A. Prof Datin Dr Rashidah Shuib of the Womens’ Health Development Unit in University Sains Malaysia. Together with NGOs - Kelantan Family Planning Association, WIJADI (Wanita Jaya Diri), Yayasan Murni, HAWA Daerah Tumpat in Kelantan, preparations for Public Forums, exhibitions, self breast examination workshops and also working with the local media went on in earnest.