THE Penang government has apportioned RM2.658 million for a free mammogram programme, from this year (2019) until 2022.
State Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said the state government had agreed to work with The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) for the program, starting this year.
“This incentive by the state government under the ‘Program Penang Sihat’ is a collaboration between Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) and Pink Penang Cancer Support Group.
“Pink Penang represents various supporting organisations for breast cancer patients in the state,” Dr Afif told a press conference in Komtar this morning.
He said that some 11,834 women, aged 35 and above, had their free screening from 2015 to 2018.
“A total of 828 or 7% of the women have been referred to the hospital for further checkup and treatment.
“I believe that about 5,000 women will take part in the programme annually, starting this year,” he said.
Registration for the programme can be made at the following Nur Sejahtera clinics – KNS Bertam in Jalan Bertam, Kepala Batas (04-5753630); KNS Seberang Jaya in Hala Kalui, Prai (04-3904104) and KNS Jalan Burmah in Jalan Burmah, George Town (04-2289840).
Story by Danny Ooi
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis