Championing Cervical Cancer Awareness: Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) Advocates for Early Screening with HPV Test Kit Sponsorship

(L-R) SJMC Consultant Gynaecologist-Oncologist Dr Noor Azmi bin Mat Adenan, SJMC Chief Operating Officer Rachel Woo, Subang Jaya State Council Assemblywoman Yang Berhormat Michelle Ng, SJMC Chief Executive Officer Bryan Lin, Consultant Oncologist Dr Matin Mellor Abdullah, and SJMC Head of Corporate Marketing & Healthcare Network Management Datin Sri Kristine Anne Williams.

Cervical cancer could become a thing of the past someday thanks to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations and screening tests, which makes it one of the most preventable silent cancers around.

In conjunction with Cervical Cancer Awareness month this January, Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) is committed to making a positive impact to the community by sponsoring thirty-eight HPV self-screening kits worth more than RM11,000 to women in Subang Jaya, especially those from underserved communities.

SJMC collaborated with the State Assembly of Subang Jaya in partnership with ROSE Foundation, who pioneered this new approach to cervical screening that has made it easier and more accessible to women, allowing them to perform self-sampling using a simple swab and the results are communicated to their mobile phones within 3 weeks’. This partnership marks its third year in bridging accessibility gaps for early screenings in the community.

“We are committed to making a positive impact and ensuring access to quality healthcare, focusing on preventive care. With Subang Jaya being our home, we are delighted to collaborate once again with Subang Jaya State Council Assemblywoman, Yang Berhormat Michelle Ng, and ROSE Foundation on this initiative. We trust that these friendly to use self-screening kits will empower the women in our community to keep their health in check, as they are the backbone and pillar of strength to many families,” said Bryan Lin, Chief Executive Officer of Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC).

During the mock cheque presentation, about 20 women from the Subang Jaya community took part in HPV screening, emphasising their commitment to health awareness. The event showcased strong community engagement and highlighted the significance of prioritising one's health within the local population.

“SJMC is a valued partner in Subang Jaya, and our collaboration on multiple community initiatives has been highly impactful. The initiative for early cervical cancer screening is a crucial step for the well-being of women who will benefit from it. On behalf of Subang Jaya, I’m grateful to SJMC for their contribution, as their support not only increases awareness but also ensure that life-saving screenings are accessible to those in need,” said Yang Berhormat Michelle Ng, Subang Jaya Assemblywoman. 

Dr Khoo Su Pei, the Director of Community Development of ROSE Foundation, shares that Program ROSE (Removing Obstacles to cervical ScrEening) has screened over 26,000 women, ensuring that 90% of women with abnormal screening tests received appropriate follow-up. “The continuous support and advocacy from corporate partners such as SJMC are indeed very valuable. It is in sync with Program ROSE’s movement to amplify and increase awareness of available, innovative method for cervical screening to drive Malaysia towards a cervical cancer-free future.”

More than 20 women from the Subang Jaya community took part in HPV screening, showcasing strong community engagement and emphasising their commitment to health awareness.

Last year, SJMC embarked on a similar campaign called ‘If Not Now, When? #endcervicalcancer’, where 300 women benefitted from this Human Papillomavirus (HPV) early screening in collaboration with Subang Jaya State Assembly, ROSE Foundation and SJ Echo.

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in Malaysia. Every year over 1,700 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and HPV is the main cause. If HPV is detected, women can choose to undergo a colposcopy to determine if there are any abnormalities in their cervix, thus removing any abnormal growths early before they turn cancerous. However, if HPV is not detected, women can choose to repeat the test once in every 5 to 10 years.

SJMC is steadfast in its contribution to the community that has supported its journey to becoming one of the leading hospitals in the region. SJMC was recently certified the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) International as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Malaysia for its Oncology services, becoming the first private medical centre in Asia Pacific to receive this. It recognises the hospital’s person-centred care approach where the patient is at the heart of care. It also highlights SJMC’s commitment to upholding regulatory standards, prioritising patient care and safety, and enhancing overall patient satisfaction.

Source: Citizens Journal