Participants in UTM’s awareness campaign playing a game that helps to increase public knowledge about skin cancer.
TO increase public knowledge on cancer and encourage students to have an interest in biology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through its Cancer and Infectious Diseases (CAID) research group, has been holding awareness campaigns in schools for the past four years.
At SMK Damai Jaya in Skudai, Johor, CAID raised awareness on the link between skin cancer and sun exposure.
Programme chief Dr Farah Hanis Juhari said some 50 students from three secondary schools in Johor Baru participated in the campaign.
“We have been holding similar campaigns involving secondary school students since the Covid-19 pandemic days in 2020.
“Initially, the campaign started as a virtual one but with the easing of restrictions, we transitioned to a physical version.
“When we started, our topic was breast cancer. Then we moved to other types of cancer affecting Malaysians,” she told StarMetro.
This year’s campaign topic is skin cancer and its prevention, as Farah Hanis said it has in recent years become one of the top 10 cancers in Malaysia.
“Even though skin cancer is among the rare diseases in Malaysia, about 10% of our population are now affected by it.
“Through this campaign, we are trying to create awareness about reducing the risk of getting skin cancer, by applying sunscreen lotion.
“People should put on sunscreen when venturing outside, as most skin cancer cases are the result of exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays,” she said.
Farah Hanis urged people who noticed early signs of skin cancer, such as the sudden appearance of moles on their body, to seek medical advice.
Additionally, she spoke about the research group’s aim of encouraging school students, especially those from B40 backgrounds, to have an interest in science, particularly biology, when they continue their studies at tertiary level.
“We noticed that the enrolment for biology is quite low and many students prefer taking up accounting when furthering their studies,” she said.
“However, biology can be quite fun to learn.
“Through the campaign, we held side events such as quizzes, games and even competitions on making short videos on skin cancer.
“Instead of relying on boring slides, we make the campaign a fun learning experience for them.”
Farah Hanis hoped the campaign’s interactive activities would stir up students’ interest in biology.
She also thanked Johor Education Department, Johor Baru district health office, SMK Damai Jaya and industry players for supporting the campaign.
