DOHA: Supreme Council of Health (SCH) celebrates implementing successful projects and campaigns in efforts to increase awareness of cancer and build a solid medical foundation for cancer, on the third anniversary of launching the National Cancer Strategy (NCS) in Qatar.
Dr Faleh Mohamed Hussain Ali, Assistant General Secretary of Policy Affairs, expressed great pride in the strategy’s accomplishments in three years, asserting that the National Cancer Programme will exhaust all efforts to continue implementing the recommendations set forth by the strategy through ongoing cancer awareness campaigns and consistent development of the medical services across the nation.
NCS launched its new brand, National Cancer Programme, during World Cancer Day on February 4. The launch included introducing the public to the programme’s website which encourages a healthy conversation about cancer and its related topics. The programme also developed a calendar of cancer awareness events that take place all year round. Most of them are public engaging events intended to promote a healthy lifestyle and awareness of cancer signs and symptoms to look out for. Some activities will target schools and educational institutions.
Looking forward, the National Cancer Programme is determined to launch a comprehensive myth refutation campaign nation-wide. In an attempt to raise the profile of the national initiative, the programme recruited a number of influential figures in the Qatari society to start a movement against cancer.
The International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC), part of the WHO, completed a review of Environmental Carcinogens in Qatar which was completed with full engagement of QP and the Ministry of the Environment. Hamad Medical Corporation and the Primary Health Care Corporation have introduced a communications skills programme for all cancer clinicians. HMC has introduced the Clinical Nurse Specialist for most cancer tumour sites and there is a master’s programme which commenced at Qatar University to further enhance the expertise and specialisation in cancer treatment and patient care. The vision of the NCS has enabled a multidisciplinary treatment plan for all cancer patients within 14 days after the initial diagnosis, and the SCH, HMC and PHCC are developing and implementing a 48 hour cancer referral process for suspecting patients.
The strategy has a lot planned for the coming year, including a nationwide recall screening programme for breast and bowel cancer, further development of the workforce through training and ongoing recruitment, and undergoing continuous evaluation via a peer review process to measure the overall productivity of the strategy.
The Peninsula
