By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, May 20: Sarawak records about 60 to 70 childhood cancer cases every year, excluding re-admissions and relapses, says Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He said childhood cancer is one of the major causes of death by disease among children under 18 years old.
However, he noted, early diagnosis and treatment with the use of advance technology can increase the survival rate of children with cancer.
“We have made good progress from communicable diseases to now non-communicable diseases, but more importantly, if the childhood cancer can be cured, the child has more years to live,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government lauded the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society in their effort to help and support children with cancer as well as their families.
“This will ensure that cancer-stricken children shall never walk alone in their life journey until there is a cure. The Sarawak government will always support the best healthcare for the people in the region, and that is the reason why we built a cancer centre.
“We will advocate for finance to ensure we have it. I hope this conference brought experts to plan strategy, the best practices, and what is applicable in tackling the diseases,” he said when launching Sarawak’s first Childhood Cancer International (CCI) Asia Conference held at a local hotel today.
Some 120 delegates and experts in childhood cancer, medical team, families, patients and survivors from across 16 countries, including Lebanon, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines and Japan, were at the conference which will take place until tomorrow (May 21).
Also present at the launching were Childhood Cancer International president João Bragança, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) Deputy General Manager for Business Development and Research Anedia Kahar, Childhood Cancer International Asia chairman Benson Pau, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific Technical Officer (Management of Non-communicable Diseases) Dr Elick Narayan, Malaysian Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (MASPHO) president Dr Teh Kok Hoi, Honorary Advisor to Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society Datuk Lorna Enan Muloon, and Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society president Rodney Wong. — DayakDaily
