Pink October 2002 launched in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu
Launch of Pink October Activities 2002 – 8 Oct 2002

How was Breast Cancer Awareness and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) linked together in Pink October 2002?
On the 8th October, 2002, history was made when the Pink October 2002 activities organized by the College of Radiology (CoR), Academy of Medicine of Malaysia and Malaysian Medical Foundation Radiology Fund (MMAFRF) was launched by Yang Berhormat Datuk Amar Leo Moggie, Minister of Energy, Communications and Multimedia in Kuala Lumpur. It was a very well attended event and the Launch was a success! 

ICT will be used to drive the Subsidised Mamogram Programme 2002 (SMP2002) organised by CoR and MMAFRF. The official homepage of the CoR, www.radiologymalaysia.org turned a year old and in conjunction with Pink October, an online quiz has been organized. This aims to encourage the predominantly younger generation of surfers to read information that may save a life or two and have fun while learning. Online submissions for the Subsidised Mammogram Programme 2002 would be encouraged as it would be fuss free and least time consuming compared to “jamming” the telephone hotlines! 

Coordinating 12 centres in 7 states is no easy feat for the Breast Cancer Awareness Programme Coordinator, Dr Evelyn Ho from the CoR, especially when funds are a very limited resource. However, with the use of electronic communications and setting up of a Subsidised Mammogram Provider on the website, the programme was made possible! 

By using ICT, it has been more cost effective and allowed the limited funds raised to be channeled to subsidizing the costs of the value added mammograms (normally ranging in price from RM120 to RM165) for 2000 women this year. For the SMP2002, women would only have to pay RM30.00 for their mammogram. 

Without the spirit of volunteerism from the 12 subsidised mammogram providers, the SMP2002 would not exist! The public should appreciate the extras given to them and the extra administrative requirements in offering such a service to the public and it is hoped that the SMP2002 would not be abused by those who can actually afford the normal prices. This will deprive the lower income group from accessing this service at this very special price. 

A mammogram which normally costs from RM120 to RM165 is not particularly expensive considering this is only done once a year or two years once. It is definitely not the type of recurring expense that women tend to incur, such as visits to the hair salons, beauty salons or gyms. This “expense” may save your life and has very much to do with health. 

For this, the CoR and MMAFRF are very grateful to Meditel for sponsoring the media awareness campaign (equivalent of RM70,000.00), Johnson & Johnson as well as Avon for their donation of RM30,000.00 each to the MMAFRF. The MMAFRF will be “spending” close to RM200,000.00 or thereabouts for the Subsidised Mammogram Programme 2002. Representing the CoR at the presentation ceremony was Dr P. Sathyamoorthy, President of the CoR and Dr N. Arumugam, Chairman of the MMAFRF. Pantai Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur provided the venue and facilities for the Launch of Pink October 2002. 

Collaborating to “save lives” was emphasized by Dr Sathyamoorthy in his welcome speech. An appeal to competitors to put aside their business objectives for a moment to join hands for a common cause was made. Avon and their Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer lipstick booth was there to raise funds for their Breast cancer fund as part of the “exhibits” on display. Both Johnson & Johnson as well as Avon sponsored door gifts for the guests at the launch.  

Sponsors also rallied to lend a helping hand for prizes for the 1^st Anniversary Pink October Online Contest. Grand prizes include a Holiday to the Gold Coast, Australia (Meditel sponsored) or a Weekend retreat in plush Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur. Other prizes were sponsored by Microsoft Malaysia, Osim Malaysia, SecuMedi, Philips Medical System, Abbott Laboratories and Abex Medical System. 

To defray the cost of this active and growing Radiology Malaysia website, the CoR is helped by Meditel, Agfa Asean, Abex and the National Council of Women’s’ Organisations with support from the Ministry of Women and Family Development. The CoR has devoted quite a substantial budget of its own for the running and expansion of the website. 

A press conference followed the launch. Guests were invited to refreshments and as well as to peruse other booths on exhibition. 

At the Foyer & Lobby

Meanwhile over in East Malaysia (SABAH)…
Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2002 launched on 2^nd October

In Sabah, the launch of the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2002 & Subsidised Mammogram Programme 2002 was held in Sabah Medical Centre, Kota Kinabalu. Dr Ravi Mandalam, our College of Radiology SMP2002 programme coordinator in Sabah organized the Launch which was officiated by Yang Amat BerBahagia Datin Ivy Chong, wife of the Right Honourable Chief Minister of Sabah on the 2^nd October 2002.

The Launch was also a success and well attended. A public forum followed the launch at 10am on 2^nd October, inclusive of a demonstration of self breast examination. Special thanks to Abex Medical System, Kodak, Bumi TTC Sdn Bhd and Schering Malaysia for sponsoring the various aspects of the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2002 in Sabah. The media played their role by supporting this cause whole heartedly. 
 

Look out for
details of the
2002 Subsidised Mammogram Programme

Since breast cancer afflicts women predominantly, what better day to launch the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2002, then, International Women's Day!