| From L to R: Dr Sarojah Arulanantham, Dr Evelyn Ho, Dr Afiizah Abd Rahman, Dr Chan Bee Keow, Jenny Liow, Doris Boo and Quek Soon Yan |
Breast Cancer Awareness Roadshow and Launch of the College of Radiology & MMA Foundation Radiology Fund Subsidised Mammogram Programme 2005: Saleng, Johore – 10 April 2005 Sunday morning proved to be a different kind of Sunday for the community of and around Saleng (outskirts of Kulai) in Johore as a Breast Cancer Awareness Roadshow was on in the Dewan Serbaguna Saleng from 10am to 2pm. Collaborating with the Yayasan Pembangunan Keluarga Darul Ta’zim and Kelinik Kesihatan Kulai Besar, this roadshow was to raise breast cancer awareness with an exhibition, booth for learning self breast examination, show case the activities of breast cancer support teams and to raise awareness on how physical activities create wellness. Nurses from the Kelinik Kesihatan Kulai Besar were on hand to measure blood pressures, check on blood sugar levels as well as body mass index and even conduct pap smears! Registration and vetting of participants for the subsidised mammogram programme was also available on site.
The Subsidised Mammogram Programme was being run in Johore through two College of Radiology accredited volunteer mammogram providers for the first time since it began in 2001. This brings the number of states to nine! The people of Johore are now able to access mammography services at only RM 50 (the rest of the cost of the value added mammogram being subsidised by the MMA Foundation Radiology Fund). This would complement the already burdened government mammography services.
This roadshow was the second in a series of three, the first one having been held in Segamat on 27 March 2005 and the next to be held in Pontian on 17 April 2005.
The programme began with a demonstration on Tai Chi with audience participation but unfortunately the music accompaniment chose to “fail” at the most crucial moment. Even so, this did not dampen the spirit of the audience nor the organisers. A line dance performance by the Breast Cancer Support Group, Johor Bahru was next.
A public forum followed with an introduction by Doris Boo, President of the Breast Cancer Support Group, Johor Bahru. It was a truly multilingual experience as the first speaker, Dr Afiizah bt Abdul Rahman of Kelinik Kesihatan Kulai Besar spoke in Malay on Breast Cancer Risks and Management while Dr Chan Bee Keow of the Hospital Sultan Aminah, Johor Bahru spoke in Mandarin on the same topic.
Post operation management was dealt with by Dr Sarojah Arulanantham, Consultant Surgeon of Hospital Sultan Aminah. This was conducted in Malay as was the case with Dr Evelyn Ho, Coordinator for the Breast Cancer Awareness Programmes of the College of Radiology as well as prime mover in the Subsidised Mammogram Programme going nationwide. A brief history of the mammogram programme was given and to date, almost 4000 women have benefited from this programme.
Even before the talks were over, the eager audience was trying to register for the mammogram programme. For a Sunday, the turnout was excellent and congratulations indeed to the hardworking Breast Cancer Support Group Johor Bahru as well as all the partners in prevention that took part in this roadshow. Action from Saleng
|
