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First Lady launches nationwide cancer early-detection program
First Lady Iriana Widodo launched on Tuesday the National Program on Community Participation on the Prevention and Early Detection of Cancer in Indonesian Women to reduce the number of cases of cancer, especially cervical cancer, in the country
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irst Lady Iriana Widodo launched on Tuesday the National Program on Community Participation on the Prevention and Early Detection of Cancer in Indonesian Women to reduce the number of cases of cancer, especially cervical cancer, in the country.
'We call on all the women of Indonesia to get accustomed to the prevention and early detection of cancer as well as adapting a smart lifestyle. We call on every Family Welfare Movement [PKK] activist and member across the country to play an active role in the implementation of the National Program on Community Participation on the Prevention and Early Detection of Cancer in Indonesian Women,' said Iriana at the launch of the program at the Nanggulan community health clinic (Puskesmas) in Kulonprogo regency, Yogyakarta.
Indonesia has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world. Health Ministry data shows that a woman dies almost every hour of cervical cancer in Indonesia.
During the launch, Iriana spoke with Mufidah Jusuf, the Vice President's wife, via teleconference, as well as the wives of governors who were at 10 Puskesmas in 10 different provinces in Indonesia.
During the dialog, Iriana asked about preparations at every Puskesmas for carrying out visual inspections by using acetate acid (IVA), a simple early-detection method to detect whether a woman is suffering from cervical cancer.
Iriana also talked to PKK leaders in the Puskesmas in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, Palembang, South Sumatra, Cimahi, West Java, Jombang, East Java, East Jakarta, Makassar, South Sulawesi, and Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
Iriana called the Bakunase Puskesmas in Bakunase subdistrict, Kupang city in NTT, representing eastern Indonesia.
NTT PKK leader Lusia Adinda Lebu Raya told Iriana that on the same day, the Bakunase Puskesmas had been named a Cancer Awareness Puskesmas and would serve as a model for the other Puskesmas in NTT, which then carried out examinations on 300 women.
At the same event, Health Minister Nila Moeloek, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise, PKK chairman Erni Cahyo Kumolo, Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS) director Fachmi Idris and representatives from the Cabinet Era Solidarity Action Organization (OASE) signed a memorandum of understanding to work together in the effort to reduce cancer among women in Indonesia.
OASE is a group of ministers' and other executives' wives, led by Iriana, working to reduce the number of female cancer cases, among other things.
After inaugurating the program, Iriana and her entourage resumed their trip by visiting a Puskesmas in Berbah village, Sleman, Yogyakarta.
The BPJS' Fachmi said his agency, OASE and the relevant government agencies had provided training to 2,143 general practitioners and midwives across the country to carry out IVA and pap smear tests.
In his keynote address, Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono said the provincial, regency and municipal administrations in the province were ready to pass on Iriana's message to reduce cancer among women, especially cervical cancer.
'To be successful, the program must be carried out using the approach of the local cultures,' said Sri Sultan.
