KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 17,751 female police personnel is expected to undergo free screening for cervical cancer nationwide.
Bukit Aman IGP Secretariat Corporate Communications head Senior Asst Comm Datuk Asmawati Ahmad said the women are aged 30 and above and are also in the B40 segment.
“The screening programme is in collaboration with Universiti Malaya and Etiqa Cares.
“It is imperative that female personnel undergo such screenings as we detected 10 personnel infected with cervical cancer since last year.
“To date, three of them have passed away,” she said after attending the Frontliners Uniting Against Cervical Cancer event at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters on Thursday (Sept 17).
SAC Asmawati added that the programme was started in Kelantan involving about 300 female personnel.
“The programme in Kuala Lumpur is expected to involve 500 personnel and we will be going to Terengganu next week.
“We hope to conduct the programme nationwide,” she said.
SAC Asmawati said the police are grateful to Etiqa Cares for providing the free screening as the cost for a swab test is about RM300 each.
“This is an honourable initiative as awareness and early detection must be made especially among female police personnel.
“Policewomen are guardian angels as they devote most of their time to their families and society. As such, most of them do not have time to take care of themselves.
“With the free screenings, the policewomen will be able to focus more on their work while taking care of their health,” she said.
SAC Asmawati added that the swab test being conducted is quite efficient as it is used to detect the virus that causes cervical cancer.
“The results of the test will go straight to the patient’s mobile phone.
“It cuts waiting time for the police personnel compared to going to the hospital especially during the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
Among others present during the event were Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Yong Lei Choo, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre Obstetric and Gynaecology Department head Prof Datuk Siti Zawiyah Omar, Rose Foundation medical technical advisor Prof Dr Woo Yin Ling, and Etiqa Cares Corporate Social Responsibility head Siti Hafizah Mohd Zahrom. -The Star