HPV Testing Safeguards Health: 32,000 Women to Be Screened for Cervical Cancer

(Simpang Jiang, 26th) This year, plans are in place to screen 32,000 women for cervical cancer using Human Papillomavirus Deoxyribonucleic Acid Testing (HPV DNA).
The Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, announced that through the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), her ministry will continue to dedicate efforts towards safeguarding women's health as a key part of larger cervical cancer prevention efforts.
At the launch ceremony of the 2026 National Cervical Cancer Prevention Awareness Month, she stated: “We hope that more women will participate in cervical cancer screening through HPV DNA testing. This year, our goal is to screen at least 32,000 women.”

The opening ceremony was held on Saturday (January 24) at the Sri Aman Civic Hall, with the speech from the Minister delivered by LPPKN Chairman Datuk Seri Rohani.
The ministry has launched a mobile cervical cancer elimination screening program in Sarawak, Sabah, and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
In Sarawak, Kampung Santubong in Kuching was chosen as the pilot area, with plans to complete screening for all eligible women by 2027.
As of December 2025, the progress has been encouraging, with 240 women already screened, accounting for 36.5% of the target population, of whom 30 tested positive for HPV.
Since the program launched in 2019, Malaysia has screened 198,001 women by HPV DNA testing.
The program found a total of 15,315 HPV-positive cases, with 210 precancerous cases referred to hospitals for treatment and 24 cervical cancer cases successfully cured.
In Sarawak alone, 53,099 local women have been tested, uncovering 4,368 HPV-positive cases. Of these, 91 were diagnosed as precancerous lesions, and 10 progressed to cervical cancer.

Nancy emphasized: “Although the number of HPV-positive cases is relatively high, through early detection, we have successfully prevented many cases from developing into cancer.”
The Minister pointed out that Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, observed globally every January, is not just an annual event but also provides an important platform for women to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early detection.
Others present at the event included: State Assemblywoman for Lingga, Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor; LPPKN Director-General Datuk Abdul Shukor; and Sri Aman District Officer Shariff Bujang.