SHARJAH, 4th April, 2017 (WAM) -- The Sharjah-based Friends of Cancer Patients Society, FoCP, has announced its full support of the vision and recommendations of the First Combined Gulf Cancer Conference, which was held in Kuwait on 2nd and 3rd April.
The participants have asked for the consolidated efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the fight against cancer, by enhancing awareness and requested a unified GCC strategy for a general framework that would encourage regional academic institutions and health authorities to expand research activities in cancer prevention, screening and treatment.
The FoCP’s announcement was made at the First Combined Gulf Cancer Conference, held under the theme "Awareness Strategy: Reality and Ambition." The two-day event was attended by leading GCC institutions, as well as by an elite group of oncologists, psychologists and social workers. The FoCP’s delegation to the conference comprised Sawsan Jafar, President of FoCP’s Board of Directors, Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Director-General of FoCP, and Haya Merai, the Programme Executive.
Highlighting the need for awareness in the fight against cancer and the importance of sharing expertise with regional organisations, the conference underlined the efforts undertaken by government and private institutions to reduce the occurrence of cancer and to provide cancer patients with all possible support.
Speakers presented a series of scientific papers outlining the latest advancements in preclinical and clinical research on cancer, and latest developments in oncology.
"We are looking forward to supporting the recommendations of the first GCC Cancer Conference, which has led to the formation of a region-wide strategy against cancer, providing us with a platform to share local, regional and international expertise. It has underlined the best practices for raising awareness through the media, medical and psychological fields," Jafar said.
Jafar also noted that the FoCP has fostered these three tracks in its strategy, and since its inception, FoCP has been raising awareness about cancer and the preventive methods among the UAE community in collaboration with the government and private sectors.
"In 2011, it launched the Pink Caravan initiative to raise awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection. Today, it is one of the most important cancer initiatives, locally and globally," she stated.
"The field of psychology has always been a key component of the FoCP strategy, in which it has launched many related initiatives, like ‘Colour My World’ to extend emotional support to cancer patients. The ‘Joy Cart’ initiative was designed to cater to the psychological needs of children in hospitals. We also believe in the important role different channels of media play in cancer awareness, and is fully integrated into all our programmes," she added.
WAM/Hazem/Majok