By Balqis Jazimah Zahari
Photo Pejabat SUK
IPOH: Queen of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, graced the launch of Phase 6 of the Free Mammogram Program Etiqa in collaboration with the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) at the Casuarina Convention Centre here.
Etiqa, a leading insurance and takaful provider in Malaysia, continues its partnership with NCSM.
The initiative aims to provide free mammogram screenings for 6,000 financially disadvantaged women, thereby increasing public awareness about breast cancer.
This national-level program, valued at RM2.01 million, is fully funded by Etiqa under its corporate social responsibility program known as ‘Etiqa Cares’.
For the sixth phase, it is scheduled to run from June 2024 to June 2025 across all states in Malaysia.
Chairman of Etiqa International Holdings, Datuk R. Karunakaran, mentioned in his speech that up to Phase 5, Etiqa has spent up to RM9.7 million to assist 27,500 financially disadvantaged women in Peninsular Malaysia to undergo free breast cancer screenings.
“The sixth phase of this program also sees Etiqa funding screenings for 50,000 Malaysians through the Etiqa National Mobile Screening Clinic in rural and urban areas.
“This mobile clinic provides screenings for breast, cervical, and prostate cancers conveniently in beneficiary areas. So far, 50,000 Malaysians have benefited from it,” he said.
During the program, the Queen of Perak also graciously presented certificates of appreciation to the hospital panels involved in making the program successful.