CoR Annual Dinner 2003

College of Radiology says "Thank You" to sponsors, supporters and friends at its annual dinner
21 June 2003

Sponsors, supporters and friends of the College of Radiology’s community programmes were guests of the College’s Annual Dinner in Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel, Petaling Jaya, Selangor on 21 June 2003. The dinner was held after the 26^th Annual General Meeting of the College of Radiology.

On the agenda of the dinner was a presentation on the College’s activities over the past 2 years, the impact and outcome of the breast cancer awareness campaigns and specifically the website and subsidized mammogram programmes. For entertainment, there were jokes and a skit put up by the student radiographers from the University Malaya Medical Centre’s School of Radiography.

College of Radiology Executive Secretary, Janet Low, receives recognition for her contributions to the College

The College of Radiology has been involved in community service programmes since 2001. It began with their inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign launched by YB Dato’ Chua Jui Meng, Minister of Health of Malaysia on 4 October 2001.

In 2002, they collaborated with the National Council of Women’s Organisations in their Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign launched on 8 March 2002. This would complement the College’s Pink October 2002 activities launched on 8 October 2002. This allowed an almost year long thrust on promoting breast health awareness and educating all on the various aspects on early detection.

The Radiology Malaysia website, www.radiologymalaysia.org and its subweb on Breast Health, www.radiologymalaysia.org/breasthealth offers year long, 24 hour a day access to the A to Z of breast health information, a Q & A section as well as general information on radiology and clinical oncology. The website has grown a whopping 82% in 2002. A grant from the National Council of Women’s Organisations to enhance and expand the breast health info centre in 2002 was a boost for the College’s e-project.

The Subsidised Mammogram Programme (SMP) forms an integral part of the College’s breast health education initiatives. It offers a further step than that of programmes offered by other bodies or organizations, i.e. the early detection facility of mammograms at a very affordable price. From its pilot programme in 2001 in Selangor, Federal Territory and Kelantan, it spread its wings to 4 other states, Penang, Perak, Malacca and Sabah.

A total of 3,419 women have benefited from the programme in two years. A total of 21 had breast cancer proven by biopsy and histopathology findings. Three of the 2001 SMP women who had cancer were interviewed in June 2002. All were well and had their own breast health messages to give other women.

Certificates of Appreciation were given to every sponsor/donor of prizes in the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, the Subsidised Mammogram Programme or the Radiology Malaysia website for 2001 and 2002. A CD of the Website as well as reports with personalized labels were also given in the sponsor pack to each of the sponsors for 2001/2002.

Johnson & Johnson as well as Meditel Electronics were specially mentioned as they have both contributed beyond RM100,000 to the community programmes. Johnson & Johnson contributed RM100,000 in 2001 to kick start the Subsidised Mammogram Programme while Meditel contributed RM30,000 in 2001. In 2002, Johnson & Johnson contributed to the Self breast examination workshops and printed collaterals while Meditel contributed to the publicity campaigns for the website as well as Early Detection Messages on TV3.

Avon Cosmetics Malaysia joined the group of caring corporates by donating RM30,000 in 2002 for the Subsidised Mammogram Programme through the National Council of Women’s Organisations. Funds for the SMP are donated to the MMA Foundation Radiology Fund and thus far, the MMA Foundation Radiology Fund itself has dispensed over RM300,000 for the campaign expenses in 2001 as well as the SMP for 2001 and 2002.