By Abdellatif Sharaa
KUWAIT: Activities of the joint 8th Gulf cancer awareness week concluded under the patronage of Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi on Sunday. Secretary General of Gulf Association for Cancer Control Dr Khaled Ahmad Al-Saleh thanked all those who participated in the activities of this week, which showed the importance of cooperation between the government and private sectors that contributes to the success of such important initiatives and positively reflects on our Gulf societies. He the theme of this year An Aware Gulf National (Khaleeji Waaei) was achieved due to the joint efforts in Kuwait and at the level of GCC countries, in which a large number of events were held to coincide with this important week.
Dr Saleh said consecutive studies over the past seven years showed a significant improvement in the health awareness culture with regards to cancer, as awareness of risk factors of cancer rose from 40 percent to 65 percent, while wrong impressions and negative view towards cancers and that they are not curable reduced from 87 percent to 47 percent. These are important indicators on the role of awareness in promoting health culture with regards to cancer diseases at the GCC level.
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Dr Saleh thanked Kuwait's health minister and the ministry's media department for its role in promoting the activities and events held with its effective participation. He also thanked the media for their help in promoting awareness. He also conveyed thanks of the higher advisory committee of the Joint Gulf week to chairwoman of the executive committee of the week Dr Hussa Al-Shaheen for her efforts to ensure the success of the activities.
Dr Shaheen expressed her pleasure for the renewed meeting of all partners in making the week's activities a success. She said the coordination committee prepared an integrated program, during which 40 activities were held, including scientific, art and sport activities, in addition to posters and awareness booklets, in addition to media interviews.
Dr Shaheen lauded the effective participation of those who recovered from cancer in this week, adding that these successes are repeated every year in every GCC country, thanking the Gulf Association for Cancer Control for this opportunity, which showcased voluntary work.