The government of Shanxi province has set up a fund of 38.61 million yuan ($5.60 million) for free cervical and breast cancer screening to raise public attention of the diseases and educate local women on preventive measures.

The free screening services are expected to cover 301,673 rural women from ages 35 to 64 across 36 impoverished counties, and will be conducted by officially designated medical institutes.

According to sources from the Shanxi Women's Federation, the incidence and death rates from cervical and breast cancer in Shanxi have been rising in recent years, with an earlier age of onset. Many people fail to get timely treatment due to the lack of awareness of the disease.

"The free check-up service as a part of a targeted poverty alleviation policy has shown the government's high concern for impoverished women," said Zhang Bao, the president of Shanxi Women's Federation, at a government conference on April 10.

"The federation will publicize relevant preferential policies among women's group and contribute to raising rural women's awareness of health care," She added.