KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): As we usher in the new year, National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) is kick-starting its new HPV vaccination programme, in partnership with the Ministry of Health. In conjunction with Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, NCSM managing director Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, together with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, share insights on the endeavour — one of the foremost initiatives in which the government, private entities and non-profit bodies are teaming up.

“Leaving No One Behind: Eliminating Cervical Cancer in Malaysia” aims to reach out to young girls from underprivileged and vulnerable communities and those who fall out of the catchment of the schooling system, where our Form 1 girls are vaccinated against HPV under the National Immunisation Programme. This is to ensure primary school dropouts, single mothers, teenage girls who live in extremely remote areas, working teens, those who are disabled or infirm, and imprisoned girls are ultimately protected against cervical cancer, which can develop from persistent high-risk HPV infection. Read about our country’s path to cervical cancer elimination in our cover story.

Also in this issue, we speak to Datuk Seri Irmohizam Ibrahim, who was recently appointed as the first Malaysian World Trade Centers Association board director, and soprano Tan Soo Suan, who will be headlining Dama Asia’s Delicate Dreams & Desires charity concert. There are a number of new openings in town, including Eat and Cook’s sister restaurant Bar.Kar, where mangrove wood is used to fire up their dishes. Bell & Ross’ new outlet at The Exchange TRX is a must-visit for fans of the aeronautical sphere, but if that is not your cup of tea, feel free to peruse our selection of 30 exceptional timepieces for your growing collection. And if you are looking for a thought-provoking read to start the year, we suggest Vanessa Chan’s riveting debut novel The Storm We Made, inspired by her paternal grandmother’s tales of war.

Read on these and more in the Jan 8, 2024 issue of Options, out with The Edge Malaysia weekly.

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