Power Over Cervical Cancer (POCC) is urging all women to get protected against cervical cancer through its Start Making Time and Stop Making Excuses campaign. POCC is an initiative by the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) and supported by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceutical Sdn Bhd that aims to educate the public on cervical cancer and its prevention.
The Start Making Time and Stop Making Excuses campaign sheds light on women’s general attitude of constantly prioritising other matters above their health, which is supported by findings derived from a global cervical cancer survey. The survey, entitled What Women Think, conducted across 19 countries, showed that most Malaysian women would rather save money or spend it on a vacation than health-related matters, and will prioritise a work appointment over a medical appointment.
“Up to 80 per cent of women will get infected at least once in a lifetime by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer. In Malaysia, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among females. With alarming figures like these, it is of utmost importance that women take immediate action against this disease which can be prevented,” said Dr Saunthari Somasundaram, President and Medical Director, National Cancer Society Malaysia.
More than 250,000 women die annually from cervical cancer, of which 99 percent are caused by the HPV. There are over 100 types of HPV, and cancer-causing HPV types 16 and 18 together cause up to 70 percent of all cervical cancers worldwide. A pap smear test is used to detect cervical cancer.
The Start Making Time and Stop Making Excuses campaign has garnered the support of these partners: Artisan Coffee, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Fitness First Malaysia, The Bee and 1 Utama Shopping Centre.
Additionally, the fourth phase of the campaign has been developed to provide as many platforms for exposure as possible to women to encourage them to take charge of their health. As such, several visually-driven initiatives are to take place, with POCC teaming up with campaign partners to place posters with facts on cervical cancer in various areas.
The Start Making Time and Stop Making Excuses campaign will also see models walking around with sandwich boards roaming high-traffic areas. Members of the public approaching the models will be directed to the touch points for them to find out more about cervical cancer prevention.
POCC will also develop in-clinic standees resembling the posters and sandwich boards, providing the public further visual cues and reinforcing the messages they have seen elsewhere. This graphic association is done in the hopes of spurring them on to seek protection against cervical cancer once they are already in a clinic.
Besides that, POCC will participate in trade fairs that are visited by young women to further educate them on cervical cancer and how they can get protected. A roving team of POCC volunteers will also spread the message of cervical cancer prevention by engaging with the public at commercial areas.
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