In conjunction with International Women’s Day on 8 March, Health & Living is exploring the barriers that women in underserved communities in Sarawak and Sabah face in the context of cancer care. Breast and cervical cancer are common cancers among women that can be detected early and yet doctors on the ground in Sarawak still see many women being diagnosed in later stages, especially in underserved communities. We speak to Dr Yolanda Augustin, clinical oncologist at St George’s, University of London, and Dr Melissa Lim, Lecturer, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) about their efforts to reach this community of women and how we can improve healthcare in Sarawak.

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