Agnes and Dr Lee (centre) with the organising committee of the Women Wellness Day.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Women & Children’s Hospital, headed by Dr Soon Ruey and its Board of Visitors, will be hosting their annual Women Wellness Day today at the Sabah Women & Children’s Hospital (O & G Clinic), Kingfisher, Likas from 8am to 3pm.
This annual campaign was initially ‘founded’ by the seventh vice-president of Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah and its women’s bureau chief, Datuk Agnes Shim, in 2006.
The objectives of the event are to increase the awareness and to educate the women about cervical and breast cancer and that prevention is better than cure.
It is also to make known the availability of simple screening tests to detect early signs of cervical and breast cancer; to make known the availability of a vaccine against the cervical cancer causing Human Papilloma Virus; to cultivate healthy habits and lifestyles with the aim to prevent these cancers; and to provide these screening tests as well as other health checks on a complimentary basis to participating women on the day.
Organising chairperson Dr Christine Lee said this year the Federation of Sabah Chinese Women Association and the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) have also stepped in to assist and jointly organise the campaign which usually sees the participation of about 450 women within the state from all walks of life.
The event will be graced by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.
Among the services/facilities provided free of charge are BMI check and counselling, blood pressure check and counselling, breast check and counselling, pap smear and osteoporosis risk assessment and counselling.
In addition, the National Population and Family Development Board will also be providing mammogram screening fully subsidised to those whose monthly income is less that RM5,000 as well as free HPV vaccination to women 18 years of age.
Other optional services/facilities are also provided but with a nominal charge.