NewsDetail
Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Al Wakra Hospital (AWH) in October launched a breast cancer awareness campaign “Pink together” to highlight the importance of breast cancer’s early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
The campaign was held in conjunction with the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) and HMC’s National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
The campaign featured activities including health education lectures, in Arabic and English, and presentations were given by subject matter experts. The lectures focused on the importance of a healthy diet as a protective measure against breast cancer, and how smoking is a breast cancer risk factor.
There were sessions on how to be breast aware by NCCCR experts, patient registration for medical radiographic testing, distribution of educational handouts on breast cancer, and answers to audience’s questions.
Making reference to some NCCCR data, Dr. Mahoud Abdul Raheem Heidous, Al Wakra Hospital’s Medical Director, said breast cancer is one of the most common cancers found in women in Qatar with an incidence ratio of 50 /100,000.
“One case of breast cancer among locals and three among residents are diagnosed in Qatar weekly. The incidence of breast cancer in Qatar is high when compared with the pertinent rates in the GCC region and the rest of the world. The World Health Organization's data shows that the incidence of the disease in Qatar approximates that of Kuwait and Bahrain and higher than the rates in Saudi Arabia and Oman.”
Dr. Amira Al Hail, Deputy Medical Director of Al Wakra Hospital said: “The breast cancer awareness campaign comes in response to the increasing incidence of the cancer in Qatar and the world. Early detection and prevention of breast cancer is of great importance and this campaign intends to get this message across to the community. Al Wakra Hospital is keen on building a community that believes that prevention is better than cure, therefore, healthy lifestyles are encouraged. Early detection of this disease can save lives. So Al Wakra Hospital urges all women in Qatar to be ‘breast aware’ and take part in the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”
Ms. Fiona Bonas, Director of the National Cancer Program commended the work of those raising awareness of breast cancer in Qatar. “On behalf of the National Cancer Program (a collaboration between the Supreme Council of Health, Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation), I would like to commend and congratulate all who have supported breast cancer awareness month this October.”
“The dedication to this important cause never fails to amaze me. This year, across Qatar, I have seen initiatives from empowering women to raising awareness and educating them about the signs and symptoms of cancer as well as the immediate call to action. The NCP’s tagline, ‘Let’s Unite Against Cancer’, couldn’t be more pertinent this month. These efforts are integral to encouraging positive behavior change to ensure our population (both men and women) is diagnosed at an early stage of cancer development where treatment interventions can be at their most successful. “
For more information, please contact:
Corporate Communications Department
Hamad Medical Corporation
