Over 100 students, teachers vaccinated against cancer at Penang girls’ school

MORE than 100 students and teachers were vaccinated against cervical cancer at the Penang Chinese Girls’ Private High School as part of efforts by the Crisis Relief Squad of MCA (CRSM) GoCare and National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM).

CRSM Penang chief Lim Jit Fong said the event was held under the “BeTheOne: HPV Vaccine and Cancer Awareness Campaign”.

The campaign aimed to raise public awareness and knowledge about health including cancer screenings and health checks by Social Security Organisation (Perkeso), said Lim.

He said the students, from Form 1 and Form 5, were vaccinated against the third most common cancer among women.

“This is the first time we have organised the event, which was funded by public sponsors.

“We believe events like this are important. Our target is to vaccinate the students as well as teachers and the public.

“The other initiative during the event was cancer detection by checking one’s haemoglobin levels,” he added.

Lim said such programmes could only be held at private schools as government schools would usually hold similar programmes with health clinics.

The school principal Leow Ghin Ngee said that private school students would have to get the vaccines on their own.

“It makes it easier on the parents and safer for the students as well when such events are held,” she said.

“The added advantage is the extra arrangements for blood tests, cancer checking and other health screenings for the teachers and students,” she added.

Penang MCA secretary Yeoh Chin Kah, who visited the school, said the BeTheOne campaign was launched on May 10 and had been held at 20 places benefitting more than 7,000 people.

“In the future, more than nine events will be held including at Chung Ling High School as well as high schools and colleges in Selangor and Sabah.

“The HPV cervical cancer vaccination programme targets women from poor, vulnerable and marginalised groups in its achieving the ultimate goal of preventing cervical cancer.

“The cancer and health screenings provide the public with the opportunity to detect cancer early so that treatment can start promptly,” he said.

Yeoh said MCA had always been committed to serving the people and helping the public through various community services.

“As the saying goes, ‘prevention is better than cure’. This campaign aims to raise public awareness of their health, especially cancer prevention.

“By prioritising preventative measures, we aim to safeguard not only individual well-being but also the economic stability of families and the overall workforce,” he said.

For more information, visit gocare.org.my/product/bto-hpv-and-cancer-awareness/