Health Carnival at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang – 17 to 18 Apr 2006
By Pushpa Thevi Rajendran, Radiographer, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang In conjunction with World Health Day, a health carnival was held at the Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR), Klang on the 17th and 18th April, 2006. A booth with the theme ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Programme’ was put up by the Diagnostic Imaging Department. The Diagnostic Imaging Department led by Dr Hanun Fauziah Bt Abdul Ghani, a Senior Consultant Clinical Radiologist – made great efforts to ensure a successful exhibition. The organizing committee’s main objective was to educate and inform the public, both women and men on breast health and breast cancer, the dreadful disease.
Posters were displayed on the anatomy of the breast, warning signs that need immediate attention and whom or where patients could go if they had a problem or get emotional support and medical advice. Pamphlets and books on breast self examination (BSE), the types of breast cancer affecting both women and men and information on post mastectomy care were made available to the public.
Besides that breast models with varying sizes of lumps, vague mass and nodules were displayed to be “examined” by the public. This was considered crucial as it ensured that the women knew how these abnormalities in the breasts felt. Trained medical officers carried out clinical breast examinations on women and educated them on BSE.
A radiologist carried out ultrasound breast examinations on women who had a palpable lump/mass. From the 47 patients who underwent clinical breast examination, 5 patients were given mammography appointments while 18 patients found to have breast lumps on ultrasound were referred to the Surgical Breast Clinic. As for the post mastectomy patients, breast prosthesis special mastectomy bras, aromatherapy oils (to speed up the wound healing process) and wigs (hair piece) were on display for sale.
The ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Programme’ had achieved its primary objective which was to reach out to as many people as possible on breast health. It must be mentioned that the success of this programme was due to the contribution and support of Philips Malaysia, the College of Radiology (CoR), Amanita, Breast Cancer Welfare Association(BCWA) and the Surgical Department of HTAR to whom we would like to offer our heartfelt gratitude.
The Health Carnival was launched on 17 April 2006, by YAB Dato’ Seri Dr Haji Mohamad Khir Toyo, Menteri Besar of Selangor. |
