UAE- FoCP to take part in regional Breast Cancer Awareness campaign

SHARJAH, 20th August, 2016 (WAM) -- Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), represented by the Pink Caravan, one of FoCP's initiatives to increase awareness about breast cancer and the importance of its early detection, has participated in a workshop organised by the Jordan Breast Cancer Programme, which took place recently in Amman, Jordan.

Included in the workshop's agenda was a discussion on the latest preparations for a unified regional campaign to raise awareness around breast cancer, with entities from six Arab countries taking part in the initiative scheduled for October, the global awareness month for breast cancer.

Present at the workshop, held at the King Hussein Cancer Centre in Amman, were Dr. Asem Mansour, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Jordan Breast Cancer Programme and CEO/Director General of the King Hussein Cancer Centre; representatives from the National Campaign for Breast Cancer Early Detection and the University of Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; the Egyptian National Breast Cancer screening programme; the Qatar Cancer Society; the Aid and Hope Program for Cancer Patients Care in Palestine; and the FoCP.

During the workshop, Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Director General of FoCP, praised the great efforts made by H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Royal Patron of FoCP, International Ambassador for the World Cancer Declaration of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC, to control breast cancer as well as her unstinting support for the Pink Caravan, which has had a hugely positive impact in the field of cancer awareness and detection in the UAE over the past six years.

Commenting on the participation of the Pink Caravan in October's regional campaign, Dr. Al Madhi underlined that the FoCP is keen to cooperate with all local, regional and international organisations in order to minimise the impact of breast cancer and to reduce its incidence through intensifying joint awareness efforts and by providing free screenings and tests.

"After Pink Caravan's great success in promoting awareness around breast cancer at the national level and providing free early detection screenings, we have endeavoured to promulgate its message across the region. We are very excited to be contributing to this campaign, which takes place in October in six Arab countries, and hope that it will be adopted in all Arab countries next year," said Al Madhi.

Dr. Al Madhi reviewed the FoCP's experience in the fight against breast cancer through the Pink Caravan and pointed out that its sixth annual ride succeeded in providing free screening and services for early detection of breast cancer to 5,059 people 4,406 women and 653 men.

She noted that among the beneficiaries were 1,119 national citizens and 3,940 expatriate residents, with the total number of beneficiaries of the Pink Caravan activities in the UAE over the past six years being 41,391 men and women of all nationalities and ages.