DOHA: Qatar will today join millions around the world to mark World Cancer Day 2016.
The day will be marked by the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC). This year’s theme ‘We Can – I Can’ underlines the fact that everyone in our community from healthcare providers and policymakers through to the public can play a part in beating cancer.
Minister of Public Health H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari said: “Cancer touches everyone in our community in some way. We are well advanced in implementation of the National Cancer Strategy and this is a reflection of collaborative effort between healthcare partners and organisations.
“Everyone can play a part in beating cancer — from partners in the National Cancer Programme developing processes and services to facilitate prevention, early detection and diagnosis, treatment and long-term transitions to the public who make a decision every day about their lifestyles. Together we can ensure no one feels alone or unsupported after a cancer diagnosis. We would like to remind patients and their families that they can ask for support if needed. All partners in the National Cancer Programme are working together to ensure that cancer support and services in Qatar are accessible and supportive.”
The day is also an opportunity for community members to take steps to reduce the impact of cancer — choosing to eat healthily, stopping smoking or educating themselves on the signs and symptoms of cancer, for example.
Another proactive way in which the public can mark the day is to make a pledge to take up breast and bowel cancer screening.
‘Screen for Life’ programme promotes education and awareness of benefits of early detection of cancer in Qatar and aims to save lives by encouraging women aged 45 and above with no symptoms to book breast cancer screening through a mammography.
Experts recommend that women should repeat breast screening every three years.
The campaign also calls on men and women aged 50 and above with no symptoms to undergo bowel cancer screening through Faecal Immunochemical Test, which can be taken on an annual basis, as recommended by PHCC.
The Peninsula
