The campaign was launched in Hanoi on October 16, as part of the 'We care for her' programme being carried out between 2013-2015 by the Health Ministry and the Supportive Fund for Cancer Patients - Bright Future.
Under the campaign, the Bright Future Fund will co-ordinate with hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to implement free screening for breast cancer including clinical examinations and ultrasound scans for 100% of women, and mammograms in case of suspected malignancy for 12,000 women ages 40 and up.
At the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health and Chairman of the Bright Future Fund Nguyen Thi Xuyen called for women to pay attention to and participate in the screening for breast cancer and appealed to enterprises and organisations to carry out screening for breast cancer for their staff ages 40 and up.
He expressed hope that through the campaign, women would gain a greater awareness of this fatal disease.
Director of Vietnam's National Cancer Hospital Bui Dieu emphasised the important role of screening for breast cancer as early detection and treatment will give patients opportunities to extend and improve quality of life.
Each year, Vietnam has about 11,000 new cases of breast cancer with more than 4,500 deaths.
