According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, breast cancer is the leading type of cancer, accounting for 25.8% of cancer cases in women. Cervical cancer accounts for about 12% and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths after breast cancer. Ovarian and thyroid cancers are also common among women. Sadly, in Vietnam, 50-80% of cancer patients are diagnosed at stages 3 and 4. However, with advancements in modern medicine, many cancers can have a survival rate of 90-99% if detected and treated early.

Cancer not only severely impacts health but also leaves heavy mental and financial burdens, especially on underprivileged women who lack access to regular health check-ups.

The free cancer screening program for the four most common types of cancer, implemented by NAPAS, Mastercard, and Payoo, will help women detect the disease early, increasing the chances of successful treatment and improving their quality of life.

The program runs from July 15 to October 15, 2024, with promotional activities at public venues to raise funds through each contactless card payment with NAPAS and Mastercard. During this period, anyone can become an ambassador of the program and contribute indirectly to the cancer screening fund through two methods: paying by contactless card at stores or sharing information about the program on social media. Specifically:

• Choose contactless card payment with NAPAS and Mastercard at Payoo's partner stores. For each successful card transaction, NAPAS and Mastercard will contribute VND 2,010 to the project.
• Visit the project website at www.chamsechia.payoo.vn, create a postcard, and share it publicly on your Facebook page with the hashtag #chamsechia. For each valid share from users, NAPAS and Mastercard will contribute an additional VND 20,100.

The total budget for the free cancer screening activity is expected to be VND 3.5 billion.

The campaign is also being implemented simultaneously with a series of major promotions by NAPAS in collaboration with Mastercard nationwide. Thus, each customer can enjoy incentives when paying with NAPAS and Mastercard while also contributing to the budget for this free cancer screening project.

Sharing about the campaign's significance, Mr. Nguyen Quang Minh, CEO of NAPAS, said: “NAPAS always considers community activities an integral part of our sustainable development strategy. Over the past 20 years, alongside efforts to promote cashless payment habits, NAPAS has regularly collaborated with partners on meaningful activities that bring valuable benefits to society. Through the 'Tap to Share - Give Hope' campaign, NAPAS aims to convey the message of health value, share difficulties, and provide strength and hope to underprivileged women for a bright and fulfilling life.”

“At Mastercard, Doing Well by Doing Good remains the guiding principle of how we care for the communities we operate within. This translates into addressing their real needs and making a meaningful, positive social impact through our initiatives. This collaboration with NAPAS and Payoo does just that by raising awareness of the importance of early cancer screening and providing essential screenings at no cost to thousands of underprivileged women who lack access to regular healthcare. This initiative not only gives women better opportunities to live life to the fullest, but also allows cardholders to make a positive impact to the more vulnerable segments of society,” said Winnie Wong, Country Manager, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, Mastercard.

“At Payoo, we always believe that the success of a business must be linked with the common progress of society. Besides developing products and services that increase convenience for the community and promoting cashless payments in Vietnam, we always aim to care for the underprivileged. With the advantage of being a platform that serves all payment needs, it is even more meaningful when Payoo becomes a platform for customers and partners to share material and spiritual support with those in need, thereby enhancing the power of compassion.” Mr. Ngo Trung Linh, CEO of VietUnion, the developer of the Payoo payment platform, shared about the campaign.

The free cancer screening project by NAPAS, Mastercard, and Payoo has also received cooperation from the Red Cross Societies of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in identifying underprivileged women from wards and communes in these cities. The target group includes female workers aged 35-60; low-income earners from poor or near-poor households;  single mothers raising children under 16; disabled individuals or primary earners in their families; and those suspected of having cancer but lacking the means for medical examination. The search and selection process will be conducted from now until September 15, 2024, ensuring that the screening slots reach the right beneficiaries.

The screening will take place over two days, October 19 and October 20, 2024, at hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In the next phase, those identified as high risk will receive partial support for further examination and appropriate treatment consultation.

NAPAS, Mastercard, and Payoo believe that with the collective effort of society, the "Tap to Share, Give Hope" campaign will bring positive changes and help improve the quality of life for underprivileged women in Vietnam.