Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group (SBCSG) Joins Know Your Lemons as a New WBA Partner
We are proud to welcome the Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group (SBCSG) as a new partner of Know Your Lemons within the Worldwide Breast Cancer Alliance (WBA). This partnership underscores our shared mission to empower women with the knowledge and support they need to detect breast cancer early and navigate their journey with confidence.
About Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group (SBCSG)
Founded in 1993 by a breast cancer survivor in collaboration with the oncology and radiotherapy unit staff at Sarawak General Hospital, the Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group (SBCSG) has grown into a beacon of hope and support for women facing breast cancer. Officially registered as a non-governmental organization in August 2000, the group has played a vital role in fostering a compassionate and informed community.
Sister Molen Ahua served as SBCSG’s first president, with Dr. Beena Devi as the group's inaugural advisor. Initially, the group’s activities were hosted at the hospital’s radiotherapy unit. However, in 2005, the Sarawak state government granted the group a bungalow in Lorong Maxwell 2, Kuching. After extensive renovations by the Public Works Department (JKR), SBCSG moved into its new headquarters, named ‘Matahari,’ meaning ‘sun’ in English, in July 2006.
Today, Matahari serves as a comprehensive resource center offering vital support to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. The center provides a helpline, counseling, and face-to-face peer support, creating a safe and nurturing environment where women can share experiences and gain strength from one another.
SBCSG’s impact continues to expand, with over 300 registered members. The organization is renowned for its rural outreach program, launched in 2012, which brings essential breast cancer screening and awareness initiatives to over 30 villages and more than 3,000 women throughout Sarawak.
A New Chapter: Partnership with Know Your Lemons
SBCSG’s partnership with Know Your Lemons through the World Breast Alliance is a significant step forward in their mission to spread awareness and education. As one representative of the organization shared,
“We are very excited to be part of the WBA network and to disseminate Know Your Lemons’ educational materials to those residing in rural communities across Sarawak, Borneo.”
This collaboration aims to bridge the information gap for women in remote areas, ensuring they have access to life-saving knowledge about breast health.
About the President
Datin Juriah Sulehan was born in March 1955, in the sleepy town of Lubok Antu, the site of of the famous Batang Ai dam, in the Sri Aman Division of Sarawak. Her parents were a mix of Singaporean and Sarawakian Javanese who made Sarawak their home in the early 70s. They finally settled down in Kg Gita Kuching. Sha has 13 siblings, which is considered to be a large number even in those days.
She was an Assistant Nurse in the Sarawak Health Department, albeit the Ministry of Health Malaysia. It was in Sarawak General Hospital that while being the nurse in charge of ECG for the whole hospital, she was chosen to be a member of the pioneer Cardiology department in 2001.
During her attachment at the Sarawak General Hospital, she participated in cancer patients palliative home care service. That was the beginning of her involvement with cancer survivors. In 2016, after retirement from the government service she joined the Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group, (SBCSG) a nonprofit organisation that provide moral support, welfare and also financial aid to breast cancer patients and survivors.
Juriah hopes to continue serving the community through the SBCSG hoping to make a difference in the breast cancer field. Early detection can and will save lives.
Join the World Breast Alliance
The fight against breast cancer requires a united and proactive approach. We invite organizations, healthcare providers, and community groups to join the World Breast Alliance and help us extend the reach of vital educational resources. Together, we can empower more women to take control of their breast health and improve outcomes for those affected by breast cancer.
For more information on how to join or support the WBA, please click here.
