Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) chairman Sheikh Dr Khaled bin Jabor al-Thani has attended separate meetings with officials of Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services and Baylor St Luke’s Medical Centre.

Sheikh Dr Khaled and Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services EMEA business development director Talal Braidy discussed ways of co-operation and the latest developments in the issue of cancer control, patient care, and psychological and social support for people living with cancer, exchanging experiences and visits in conferences held between the two sides, as well as launching community awareness campaigns.

The meeting also presented the care services provided and available to patients in Qatar and the possibility of supporting regional co-operation with civil associations concerned with cancer, especially in Saudi Arabia.

Also discussed were ways to enrich the scientific contents of QCS’s website with the latest updates and points related to due diligence and governance for a potential international cooperation agreement.

The meeting was also attended by QCS scientific adviser Dr Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed and Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services country manager for Saudi Arabia, Najla al-Hudaib.

In the QCS chairman’s meeting with Baylor St Luke’s Medical Centre’s international services manager Ismail Abushaikha, the two parties discussed ways of co-operation and the latest developments in cancer control, support, empowerment, and advocacy for people living with the disease, as well as professional development and scientific research in the field of cancer, exchanging experiences and visits between the two sides and the healthcare services provided and available in Qatar.

At the end of the meetings, the guests toured the QCS awareness centre and expressed admiration for the services provided as well as the modern facilities.
Sheikh Dr Khaled welcomed all avenues of co-operation locally and internationally to develop QCS programmes and plans through the exchange of ideas and visions between experts from various sectors and utilising the same for developing cancer awareness and providing the best services.

“The Qatar Cancer Society spares no effort to achieve its vision to be the community partnership platform for making Qatar a leader in cancer prevention and its burden control, by working with partners to educate the community, support, empower and advocate for individuals living with cancer, and engage in professional development and scientific research,” he said.

QATAR Cancer Society (QCS) hosted (Hope Iftar) event as part of the Psychosocial and social support program for people living with cancer.

More than 300 patients, survivors, their families, Ambassadors of the Honorary Society, and several public figures and media personalities. Attend the ceremony at  Sheraton – Doha.

The event was presented by Nadine Al-Bitar and launched  “Go Back Stronger” initiative for some people living with cancer who decided to document their survival journey in a short video, namely Sharif Shaker and Muhammad Al-Iraqi, in cooperation with everybear company, supporting Hadara company. The event also included many paragraphs focused on psychological and societal support for this category.

Dr. Muhanned Adnan – consultant at QCS-  welcomed the attendees at the IFTAR, which the charity is keen to organize every year, aiming to provide psychological and societal support for people living with cancer, pointing out that the annual event is happening in conjunction with QCS’ mission to prevent cancer and control its burden in Qatar by working with its partners to educate the community and to support, empower and advocate individuals living with cancer,

He thanked everyone who contributed to supporting the society’s vision to be the community partnership platform for making Qatar a leader in cancer prevention and its burden control, especially the Ministry of Public Health – Qatar, Sidra Medicine, National Cancer Program, Primary Health Care Corporation, and Hamad Medical Corporation.

Qatar Cancer Society “ QCS “  has participated in the World Cancer Day campaign, which takes place on 4th February every year led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). The Society is one of its members. In addition to being a member of the advisory committee for the global campaign for World Cancer Day, which was launched this year under the slogan “close the gap in cancer care.”

The campaign will continue for three years to unite People, organizations, and governments from all over the world joined forces to create awareness and increase equal opportunities in the field of cancer and its various services.

In this regard, QCS launched ” Win the challenge ” campaign, which will continue throughout the current month, to raise community awareness of the disease, methods of prevention, and early detection, and promote the concept of justice in the fight against cancer, through many events, activities, and competitions, in addition to virtual workshops and awareness campaigns across platforms.

Within the framework of the preventive measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the campaign was launched on various media and electronic platforms.

Several awareness videos for the campaign were produced with the participation of public figures, as well as awareness competitions on social media platforms and virtual awareness workshops about cancerA virtual workshop for capacity building of cancer awareness promoters and another in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health for health workers were held as part of the campaign, in addition to publishing stories of hope on many platforms and involving people living with cancer in virtual workshops, as well as a fundraising campaign through Ooredoo app using Nojoom points.

Many institutions and companies in Qatar participated in the World Cancer Day campaign, including Ooredoo – Strategic Partner – Qatar Charity – Humanitarian Partner, Jassim, and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation, Qatar Aluminum, Shail Holding Group, and  Masraf Al Rayyan and Facilities Management and Maintenance Company, L.L.C (FMM), In addition, some of Doha’s landmarks are lit in orange, to signify the celebration of World Cancer Day.

Dr. Hadi Mohammad Abu Rasheed – Department of Professional Development and Scientific Research at Qatar Cancer Society – Member of the Advisory Committee of the International Campaign for World Cancer Day  ‘ said The World Cancer Day campaign, extending from 2022-2024, aims to raise awareness about justice in the fight against cancer, and calls on the cancer community, governments, and health care providers to take measures commensurate with national needs and resources to reduce inequality, through several efforts.

 The most important of which are develop comprehensive public health policies that focus on the individual and take into account the peculiarities and needs of different populations, and Participate in community outreach, expand the use of technical innovations (digital health, mobile testing units, self-sampling test kits), as well as provide the necessary resources so that they can be used more widely.

World Cancer Day 2022 is led by the theme “Close the care gap,” recognizing the power of knowledge and challenging assumptions. This first year of a new three-year campaign on equity raises awareness about the lack of equity in cancer care and barriers for many people in accessing services and receiving the care they need. He added.

Qatar Cancer Society  )QCS) concluded the participation in seventh Gulf joint Cancer Awareness Week, which under the slogan “Your health in your fitness” under the Gulf Union Against Cancer in co-operation with Gulf Centre for Cancer Control and Prevention.

Each year, the first week of February has been approved as a Gulf Cancer Awareness Week that aims to fight risk factors to reduce infection rates, encourage early detection to increase recovery rates, and unify media messages in the GCC.

The Gulf Awareness Week included several programs and activities that QCS launched, the most notably activating the electronic brochure “in all languages ​​..We can ” the workshop was also implemented to build the capacities of cancer awareness promoters, in addition to publishing stories of hope for people living with cancer on many platforms and engaging them in virtual workshops.

Several virtual awareness workshops on cancer, promoting healthy lifestyles in the community, and launching a daily awareness competition on social media.

The GCC Awareness Week was launched on all media platforms, social media, QCS website, YouTube channel, and lighting many of the country’s landmarks in purple about the celebration of the Gulf Awareness Week.

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), in cooperation with Police Institute for Women, celebrated National Sport Day (NSD) by organising an awareness booth at the institute’s headquarters to spread awareness of the importance of sports and the need to promote healthy lifestyles to prevent diseases, especially cancer.

Mona Ashkanani, general manager of QCS, said: “The celebration of Sport Day comes in light of the state’s keenness to promote the concept of health and safety through its National Vision 2030 and the importance of investing in the human capital and a society whose members enjoy health and wellness.”

She highlighted QCS’ keenness to spread awareness of the importance of sports and enhance its role in the lives of individuals and society in general based on its vision to be a community partnership platform to make Qatar a pioneer in the field of cancer prevention.
This year’s Sport Day is of great importance as it comes months before Qatar hosts the 2022World Cup, a global event that will shift the global attention Qatar.

She called on all members of society to make sports a way of life, as the sports sector represents one of the components of the pillar of health development, which plays a vital role in improving and enhancing the quality of life and the well-being of all who reside in Qatar

 

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) and Palm Beach–Promise Fund of Florida organised an international virtual breast and cervical cancer symposium on the challenges and opportunities in the current oncology delivery system in both countries to learn more and discuss the impact of efficient, cost-effective and high-quality cancer care.

Several competent authorities in Qatar and the US participated in the virtual symposium, the first collaboration in a two-year partnership between the two non-profit organisations. The charity’s goal is to develop a long-term strategic connection between the organisations. Both non-profits will seek to collectively improve health education, training and delivery of cancer care charity services in their respective countries. They also strive to improve prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship related to women’s cancer.

HE Nancy Brinker, head of the Promise Fund of Florida team, former ambassador of US, former Chief of Protocol of the US, the World Health Organization’s Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control and founding member of Promise Fund; Dr Michael Zinner, chief executive officer and Executive Medical Director at Miami Cancer Institute; and Dr Lillie D Shockney, professor of Breast Cancer and professor of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, attended the event.

Qatar Cancer Society team was headed by Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor Al-Thani as the chairman, with members Mona Ashkanani, general manager; Dr Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed, head of professional development and scientific research department, Qatar Cancer Society; and Dr Artefaa Al-Shamari, oncoplastic breast surgeon, Hamad Medical Corporation and honorary ambassador of QCS.

HE Nancy Brinker welcomed the cooperation between the two institutions and the qualitative efforts led by the State of Qatar, represented by QCS, in the field of caring for people living with cancer and providing the best quality and efficient services.

Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor Al Thani welcomed the cooperation with the Promise Fund of Florida, which would leave a lasting impact on people living with cancer, physically and psychologically, and its implications for spreading awareness of cancer and ways to prevent it.
He affirmed QCS’ keenness on cooperation between various parties locally and internationally and keeping pace with the international experiences and expertise to develop its programmes and plans to provide best services to patients. He noted that the charity spares no effort to achieve its vision of the community partnership platform for making Qatar a leader in cancer prevention and its burden control.
“I am proud that the Promise Fund and the Qatar Cancer Society are about to embark on this transformative global partnership.

Both organisations have been leaders in research breakthroughs leading to the eventual curing of breast and cervical cancers. Given the events of the last two years, partnerships like this highlight the importance of global collaboration to achieve public health milestones. As the former US Treasury Attaché to Qatar, I am excited to visit Doha and my Promise Fund colleagues in January 2022 to once again partner with my Qatari friends on issues of global significance,” said Michael Greenwald, Promise Fund of Florida Vice-Chair.

Aiming at supporting, empowering and advocating for people living with cancer, Dr Hala Al-Saeed, a psychotherapist and autism counsellor, launched her book titled ‘Psychological Support for Cancer Patients’. At the launch ceremony, a copy of the book was gifted to Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor Al Thani, chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), and Mrs Mona Ashkanani – General Manager.

The book offers practical advice and guidance to both patients and cancer survivors. It promotes the importance of raising awareness of cancer, methods of prevention, early detection, professional development and scientific research. Sheikh Dr Khalid thanked Dr Al-Saeed for her initiative, revealing the true meaning of social responsibility.

His Excellency said, “We at Qatar Cancer Society always strive to be the community partnership platform for making Qatar a leader in cancer prevention and its burden control.”

HE. welcomed the book, which will be launched from Qatar at the level of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, especially since he is the president of the Gulf Union for Cancer Control.

Regarding the idea of the book, Dr Al-Saeed said, “The idea stemmed from an internal challenge that resulted from the death of my son from cancer, after a journey of suffering that I experienced in several countries while accompanying him for treatment.

We cannot change fate, but we can change society’s perception and highlight the cancer patients and their families and the extent of their suffering during this difficult journey, in which they are in dire need of psychological and social support.” She added.

“I have a plan to print an unlimited number of copies and distribute them in many Gulf and Arab countries. The coming period will witness the translation of this book into English to expand the base of its beneficiaries,” She added.

Qatar Cancer Society “QCS “concluded “Blossom “Campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer which lasted throughout October each year, Which is one of the most common types of cancer among women in Qatar and worldwide.

Mrs. Mona Ashknani, General Manager of Qatar Cancer Society, said “Blossom “ is a national campaign targeted  all Categories  of Qatari society throughout the month and aimed  to emphasize the importance of periodic examination for the early detection and spreading the culture of a healthy lifestyle to prevent it, as well as Highlight the health services available in the State of Qatar, Activating the society’s role in providing psychological and Financial  support to cancer patients, And produce  the experiences of individuals living with cancer,

pointing to that QCS has launched the awareness campaign via its electronic platforms  Within the framework of the preventive measures to limit the spread of Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by broadcasting awareness messages and videos related to the definition of breast cancer, in addition to launching several virtual workshops and many public figures participated in the campaign.

QCS continues to resume attendance in awareness campaigns and programs while adhering to the preventive measures to limit the spread of Covid-19, which targeted  many institutions and ministries of the state, as well as hotels, schools, universities, and health institutions, as well as resuming attendance and participation in many programs, the most important of which is “Our passion in Our Health,” which It targets women who are housewives and workers in different sectors. She added.

Among the activities during “Blossom ” campaign are the “Pink Walk” event in cooperation with the Qatar Motorcycle Center (Batbit), and the “Pink Ride” in cooperation with Qatar Cyclists Centre, under the auspices of Mowasalat (Karwa) as an official sponsor and Floward  Company as co-sponsor  , as well as the launch of “Blossom ” competition to raise awareness of breast cancer on  QCS’s social media sponsored by Doha Bank , Qatar National Bank , Ooredoo . Movenpick Hotel Doha . She added.

Director-General thanked all participating in the campaign, whether through financial support for people living with the disease or supporting awareness programs, including Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Center, Roche Pharmaceuticals,  in addition to Lulu Hypermarket, Monoprix , Spar , Alfardan  ,  Doha Quest and their launch of the “Shop and Donate” campaign, Careem,  also Ooredoo Stars by donating using loyalty points on the application, Talabat by donating a percentage on some merchandise in the application, beside Al-Darwish jewellery by allocating a group by allocating the proceeds of some sales to the Qatar Cancer Society.

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) and The Children’s Cancer Centre of Lebanon (CCCL) have joined hands to prevent childhood cancers by awareness-raising about cancer, collaboration, promoting key facts about paediatric oncology symptoms, importance of early detection, diagnoses, treatment and survivorship.

This co-operation comes on the occasion of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month ( September) and emphasising regional networks across borders for childhood cancer control.This is done through sharing the CCCL Bus of Hope film series, produced with the support of UNICEF and Sanofi Espoir, a collection of five simple and engaging short films promoting public awareness about childhood cancer. It is also done by sharing QCS videos to support and empower children living with cancer and social media posts.

Regional collaborations on crucial issues like childhood cancer control are essential to promoting much-needed awareness which helps in early detection, destigmatising cancer, and easing the journey on patients and their families.

The CCCL Bus of Hope films also feature childhood cancer patients, parents, survivors sharing their journey and experiences, alongside animations to convey the facts. The movies are in Arabic with English and French subtitles and suited for audiences of different ages

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) and S’hail Holding Group have signed an agreement under which the latter will provide financial support of QR100,000 annually for three years to treat needy patients.

The agreement was signed by Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, chairman of QCS, and Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Thani, member of the Board of Directors, S’hail Holding Group.

Sheikh Dr. Khalid valued the efforts of S’hai Holding Group in charitable and humanitarian work, especially in the health sector, and supporting the awareness efforts carried out by QCS, especially in supporting the treatment of cancer patients through the high costs of treatment for the disease.

HE. stressed that QCS, since its establishment in 1997, has sought not to have a single patient on the support waiting list. QCS has spent over QR19.5mn to treat about 1,317 patients and in the first quarter of 2021 has spent  over  QR 3.5 mn to treat about 981 patients In the National Center for Cancer Care and Research and Sidra Medical Center,