WANITA MCA has called for the government to acknowledge the rise of cancer among children in the country, uncover the causes, provide complete medical facilities and services, and actively promote publicity on cancer prevention.
The party’s women’s wing expressed concern over the number of cancer patients in Malaysia, particularly among women and children whereby the number of individuals diagnosed is increasing while the age of those stricken grows younger.
“We concur with the efforts by the Health Ministry (MOH) to expand and improve medical facilities and services to dispense the best medical care and treatment for cancer patients, especially children,” said Wanita MCA national chairperson Wong You Fong in a statement on Thursday (March 7).
“However, the plan proposed by MOH is not sufficiently specific. Only by executing goals within a set time, would patients be really aided.”
Last Friday (March 1), Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said over 700 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with cancer each year or an average of two children per day.
However, he noted that with the progress of treatment available, there has been a dramatic increase in the chances of recovery for these children, with more than 70% of them having recovered.
On this matter, Wong said urgency is needed in the health agenda of the medical authorities to treat childhood cancer, adding that the economic conditions of patients are often related with treatment opportunities.
Citing a report by the World Health Organisation, she said in high-income countries where comprehensive services are generally accessible, more than 80% of children with cancer are cured, while in low- and middle-income countries, only less than 30% are cured.
“We recognise the pressures faced by government hospitals daily. To reduce the problem of patients succumbing due to delayed treatment, we hope that the government will encourage and support the participation of private hospitals in the government’s plan as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the latter’s part,” Wong said.
“This is to lower the number of cancer patients losing out on accessibility to treatment due to poverty.”
Wanita MCA further called on MOH to commit itself towards researching and identifying the factors and sources that lead to cancer among children, such as investigating and studying the environmental factors, hereditary genes and lifestyle to lessen incidences of childhood cancer and promote healthy living.
“Policies and advocacy on treatment methods, palliative care, enhancements towards environmental sanitation and hygiene, and other aspects require more publicity and public awareness on cancer,” Wong stressed.
“The government and relevant health and welfare departments also need to cooperate to improve care and assistance to families of childhood cancer patients, including providing support for medical expenses, mental health, educational assistance, and others to ease the burden on families.” – March 7, 2024
Main pic credit: DownToEarth
