Etiqa, Rose Foundation launch Phase 2 of Etiqa’s free cervical screening programme

AS part of efforts to eliminate cervical cancer in Malaysia, Etiqa and the Rose Foundation launched Phase 2 of Etiqa’s Free Cervical Screening Programme recently, in conjunction with World Health Day yesterday.

Etiqa’s Free Cervical Screening Programme was first launched in July 2019 in partnership with the Rose Foundation to detect and treat women who screen positive for the human papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of cervical cancer.

Despite being preventable, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in Malaysia and the fourth most common cancer among women globally. 

Phase 1 of the maiden programme which screened over 6,000 women from selected B40 communities in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak was completed successfully despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns.

In addition, the programme was extended to frontliners under the ‘Frontliners Uniting Against Cervical Cancer’ campaign where it screened about 1,500 nurses and police and army personnel helping to fight the pandemic in Malaysia.

Due to the success of Etiqa’s ‘Free Cervical Screening Programme’ and ‘Frontliners Uniting Against Cervical Cancer’ campaigns, the Rose Foundation and Etiqa have entered into the second year of collaboration with the aim to screen another 6,000 eligible women nationwide.

Unlike a conventional Pap smear which involves a yearly pelvic examination, ‘Program Rose’ offers women the dignified choice of using a self-swab; a quick, convenient, and effective approach to enable molecular tests to be undertaken, followed by prompt delivery of results. 

In her speech, Datuk Professor Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, chair of Rose Foundation and Infectious Diseases Specialist at the University of Malaya, highlighted Malaysia’s commitment to the WHO cervical cancer elimination targets.

“The mission of Rose Foundation, which is to serve the under-screened and underprivileged population, is aligned with this year’s World Health Day theme of ‘Building a fairer and healthier world’. Cervical cancer is another example of inequity where 80% of the global incidence of cervical cancer happens in lower-middle-income countries.”

The programme concluded with a short forum also attended by Etiqa Group chairman Datuk R. Karunakaran titled ‘Frontliners Uniting Against Cervical Cancer’ featuring Dr Adeeba; Siti Nita Zuhra Mohd Nazri, chief bancassurance officer, Etiqa; Datin Seri Datuk Asmawati Ahmad, former head of corporate communications, Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) and Rose Ambassador; and Kolonel (Dr) Che Hasnura Che Hassan, Obstetrics & Gynaecology Specialist from Hospital Angkatan Tentera Tuanku Mizan. The forum was moderated by Nadiah Hanim Abdul Latif. – The Vibes, April 8, 2021