KUCHING, Jan 30: A fashion show featuring cancer survivors and caregivers will be the main highlight of the ‘World Cancer Day: Raising Patient Voices through Form & Fashion’ at Plaza Merdeka Shopping Mall on Feb 4.
The event is organised by Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Kuching (Scan) in conjunction with World Cancer Day 2023.
Scan in a statement today said, the event, which is open to the public aims to showcase the resilience, strength, and hope of cancer survivors and caregivers, including inspiring others to participate in future cancer awareness initiatives.
“The theme for World Cancer Day 2022-2024 is ‘Close The Care Gap’, emphasising the need to address disparities in access to cancer care,” it said.
“This gap is especially pronounced in developing countries, where factors such as income, education, location, race, and gender impact access to optimal treatment,” it said.
According to the non-governmental organisation (NGO), despite basic healthcare in Malaysia, there are still disparities in care, particularly for patients from rural areas who face financial constraints from travel and treatment costs.
It added the rising cost of cancer treatments and drugs, not typically covered by government subsidies, has led to financial hardship for patients and their families.
“As a result, some are forced to abandon treatment and succumb to cancer,” it said.
The NGO pointed out that the gap is especially pronounced in developing countries, where factors such as income, education, location, race, and gender impact access to optimal treatment.
It said despite basic healthcare in Malaysia, there are still disparities in care, particularly for patients from rural areas who face financial constraints from travel and treatment costs.
“The rising cost of cancer treatments and drugs, not typically covered by government subsidies, has led to financial hardship for patients and their families. As a result, some are forced to abandon treatment and succumb to cancer,” the statement read.
The World Cancer Day event will kick off at 11am with a Zumba session led by one the talented instructors from Amber Studio in Kuching — Zin Edd.
Following that, a knowledge-sharing forum will be held featuring a panel of medical doctors with expertise in cancer treatment and care, to share share their knowledge and experiences on the disease.
Later, a talk from a social enterprise, and the main highlight of the event, the fashion show featuring cancer survivors and caregivers at 5pm and Minister at the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Sarawak Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah is expected to grace the event.
The World Cancer Day celebrations will end with the symbolic lighting up of the iconic Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) building at 7pm on the same day which will remain lit until Feb 5, at 7pm. — DayakDaily
