Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Health Ministry will offer free breast cancer screening to people on their birthday from next year, an advisor in the ministry's Organization of Civil Servants' Wives (DWP), Ida Budi Gunadi, announced on Thursday."Insya Allah (God willing), next year, this plan will start to be implemented," she said here.
She explained that the free breast cancer screening program is part of the three Quick Win programs of President Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Cabinet.
The three Quick Win programs in the health sector include free health screening, hospital construction in regions, and the treatment of tuberculosis.
"First, is tuberculosis control, the second is the construction of hospitals in remote areas, and the third is free health screening, which includes free breast cancer screening for people celebrating their birthday," Ida informed.
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The program aims to increase the awareness of women on the benefits of early breast cancer screening. According to her, many Indonesian women undergo the screening late.
Ida pointed out that the program will be implemented based on age categories, such as elderly, adults, and teenagers turning 18. Later, she informed, the program will also cover screenings for other conditions, such as cervical cancer, liver cancer, and hepatitis.
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She expressed the hope that the free screening will prevent cases of people finding the cancer too late, such as at Stage III or Stage IV, and reduce mortality from cancer.
The Indonesian Women's Cancer Advocacy Association (A2KPI) highlighted data showing that more than 48 percent of breast cancer patients were diagnosed at Stage III, 20 percent at Stage IV, and 70 percent died or experienced financial problems within just 12 months of the diagnosis.
