Kuala lumpur: Women aged 35 to 65 who are still sexually active are encouraged to undergo early cervical cancer screening to help reduce infection rates and prevent premature deaths. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri emphasized that early detection is crucial, as the disease can still be treated and cured if identified at an early stage.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri highlighted the ministry's efforts to raise awareness of women's health, particularly cervical cancer. These efforts include nationwide screening programmes and education campaigns. The ministry is actively seeking additional budget allocations to expand access to rural areas, employing a mobile screening initiative that allows residents to perform self-screening similar to a DIY COVID-19 test.

Nancy made these remarks at the Jelajah MADANI Rakyat programme, held in conjunction with National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations, at the Pusat Latihan Kenegaraan Sampadi. She noted that since the launch of the human papillomavirus (HPV) self-screening programme at the end of 2023, Sarawak has seen the highest participation rate thus far. However, she expressed concern over the low response in several other states, particularly in urban areas with better access.

Nancy stressed the importance of encouraging women to utilize the facilities provided, as awareness remains lacking in some regions. Statistics from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development reveal that from 2019 to 2024, a total of 45,313 women in Sarawak have undergone HPV screening tests, while nationwide, 162,581 women have participated in the screening.