DOHA: The National Cancer Program (NCP) has launched ‘Be Breast Aware’ campaign, an initiative addressing breast cancer and reaching out to women to become breast-aware and protect themselves against later stages of cancer.
Cancer generally is a growing problem for Qatar and World Health Organisation reported that breast cancer is by far the most common in Qatar as up to 140 cases have been diagnosed yearly among expatriates and Qataris since 2010.
But it remains shrouded with fear and shame for a lot of women and as a response to this and to mark the internationally celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign has been launched.
To begin it, NCP partnered with Lulu Hypermarket, a major retail company and supporter of the cause, and Azadea Group’s Intimissimi to promote the campaign in their retail stores.
As part of the campaign, pink paper ribbons — the international symbol of breast cancer awareness — have been attached to the underwear on display in the stores to catch the attention of shoppers passing by. On the back of the ribbons is a message from NCP: “It’s your time to care, be breast aware”, with a link to an app, Monthlies, developed for the campaign.
Dr Salahaddin Gehani, General Surgery and Breast Cancer Consultant, Hamad Medical Corporation, said, “We are happy to launch our campaign this month. We are thankful to all institutions that have enthusiastically supported us in the initiative which is aimed at raising awareness and knowledge about breast cancer. These institutes play a vital role in reaching our target audience and we are confident they will contribute to the overall impact of this campaign.”
Fitness institutions, including Aspire Active Ladies Club, Qatar Women’s Sports Committee, The Venue at Al Sadd and Fitness First at City Center have joined the cause to expand the campaign’s outreach. They are displaying large pink, visually appealing posters in locker rooms and bathrooms which sign women to the app.
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and Qatar University are showing their ongoing commitment to the cause by supporting NCP and displaying the pink posters in popular areas on their campuses, such as HBKU Student Center, Qatar Foundation’s Recreation Center, and Qatar University’s Female Sports Complex, Female Student Activity Building, and in College of Art and Science.
The Peninsula
