Penang: The Prime Minister's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today called on women in the country to go for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test provided by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) for cervical cancer screening. She said women aged 30 and above are the group most at risk of cervical cancer.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the HPV DNA test provided by LPPKN uses a method that allows women to take their own samples. The test is free, painless, and less invasive when compared to other methods. Dr Wan Azizah emphasized that men also need to be informed about the test as they have mothers, wives, and daughters who need to undergo HPV DNA screening. Cervical cancer can be prevented if it is detected at an early stage, she noted at the 'Santuni MADANI: Wanita Sihat Keluarga Sejahtera' Carnival at the Al-Mashoor Madrasah Grounds today.
The carnival is held in conjunction with the Penang Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2025. The event was attended by State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim and LPPKN Director-General Abdul Shukur Abdullah. Dr Wan Azizah highlighted the importance of women prioritizing their health, underlining their role in maintaining the family institution as a cornerstone of social stability in the country.
According to the HPV Information Centre, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in Malaysia, with about 1,740 new cases and 991 deaths reported each year. Dr Wan Azizah, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Bandar Tun Razak, expressed concerns about Malaysia's declining fertility rate and its progression toward becoming an ageing nation. She expressed gratitude to LPPKN, which operates under the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development, for implementing programmes aimed at increasing public awareness of fertility issues.
At the event, Dr Wan Azizah presented WCaRe vouchers, Back to School aid, and food boxes to 200 women, 260 students, and 200 low-income families in the Tanah Liat area. The WCaRe vouchers are offered by LPPKN to eligible women as an incentive for cervical cancer screenings. Meanwhile, the school bags and food items were contributed by Pertubuhan Kebajikan Amal Silaturahim Isteri-Isteri Harapan Malaysia (KASIH Malaysia), Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM), and Yayasan Food Bank.