KUCHING: The fight against breast cancer requires a collective effort from all stakeholders, not just the federal government, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He said more than 3,000 breast cancer cases have been detected in Sarawak over the past five years, a significant increase from the usual 2,000 cases.
“For the first time ever, Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) has recorded more than 3,000 cases. Every year, the numbers keep rising, which means we must do more to understand the severity of breast cancer here,” he said.
“Because we love them, and we want them to continue living the life they want,” he said.
He said this when met by reporters after officiating at the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Sarawak Energy Berhad and Roche Malaysia at Persona Hall, SGH here today (Mar 17).
Earlier in his speech, Dr Sim noted that one in 13 women has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
“However, it all depends on the detection, whether we detect it or not, that is all that matters,” he added.
Looking ahead, he predicted significant advancements in healthcare over the next decade.
“Be it cancer or congenital diseases, there will be a major breakthrough in the healthcare system due to artificial intelligence (AI).
“For instance, if congenital diseases can be diagnosed within the first six months of a baby’s life, they may never need a wheelchair in the future.
“At the same time, it requires a lot of money for such treatment, depending on the circumstances. So I hope the Ministry of Health (MOH) will work on getting such funding,” he added.
