West Sumatra Governor: Province Has Qualified Human Resources and Health Facilities for Early Cancer Detection

West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi stated that the province has adequate human resources in healthcare and sufficient health facilities to implement early cancer detection programmes. “West Sumatra has a strong enough foundation to accelerate early cancer detection efforts,” Governor Mahyeldi said in Padang on Sunday. In addition to being supported by a network of health facilities and medical personnel, the province also has referral hospitals and universities ready to collaborate on early detection. He noted that early detection is the most effective step in reducing the mortality rate from cancer. He therefore called on all stakeholders to strengthen collaboration so that health screening services can reach more people. “Through screening, cancer can be found at an early stage, so the chances of successful treatment are much higher,” the governor said. He also mentioned that the national free health check-up programme could be synchronised with early cancer detection as part of promotive and preventive efforts. The governor has asked the West Sumatra Health Office to prepare regulatory strengthening measures to support the early cancer detection movement, starting from issuing circulars to formulating stronger policies if necessary. Meanwhile, the President Director of Dr. M. Djamil State Hospital Padang, Dovy Djanas, said that education and literacy are needed to increase public awareness about cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and support for patients and survivors. He added that the health service transformation being carried out by the Ministry of Health has made cancer, heart disease, stroke, and uronefrology a national priority.