In the 2015 Budget, while the allocation for Women, Family and Community Development Ministry increased about RM88.2 million, I am surprised and appalled that two very important programmes under the said Ministry, the HPV vaccination programme and mammogram subsidy, were given to a massive cut of allocation, from RM10 million in 2014 to only RM1 million next year respectively.
This represents a 90% cut in budget for both programmes.
October is the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to a statement by representative of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, over 5% of women in Malaysia will develop breast cancer, and early detection is crucial to increase the chances of survival. The statement also noted that the best methods of early detection are mammograms and a combination of self and clinical breast examinations. (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/10/15/ncsm-breast-cancer-tops-all-others-in-msia/)
Cervical cancer on the other hand is the second commonest cancer in Malaysian women and the fourth commonest cause of death in women in Malaysia. HPV vaccination is accepted as a strategy to control cervical cancer.
As such, what is the message of the Prime Minister in his massive 90% reduction of the allocations to prevent two major causes of death of Malaysian women? Does this mean that when the government has to cut cost, the budget for women’s health, safety and security will be the first to be reduced, and at such massive rate?
Through this move, was the Prime Minister implying that Malaysian women’s health, safety and security are not important agendas of the federal government?
I call upon the esteemed Minister for Women, Family and Community Development, who has by now assumed the role for a year, to take responsibility of this matter and to enlighten the Prime Minister, who himself was once the Minister for Women, Family and Community Development, and return the budget for these important programmes.