JEDDAH, 20 April 2004 — The Eman Cancer Society is hosting an evening of poetry to raise funds in support of poor people with cancer on Wednesday. Reading their poetry will be Khaldiah Al-Khalifah from Bahrain and the Saudi poets Jorooh and Nouf Al-Kahtani. Tickets are SR50.
ECS is a national non-profit organization that aims to help alleviate not only the agony of those already involved in a fight against cancer but also hopes to create strong awareness of the need for early detection.
Its breast cancer awareness campaign has been a success, and recently ESC launched a colon cancer awareness campaign and a campaign on the risks of smoking.
“The ESC does not cover the whole cost of cancer treatment, but we depend on the donations of benefactors; we also have a program of adopting a patient,” said Jowhara Al-Angari, the head of the ESC women’s branch. Public hospitals treat Saudi patients free of charge but sometimes they are out of medication. This is where ESC steps in, providing medication which can cost thousands of Riyals. It also supports non-Saudis who are unable to afford the treatment.
ESC works closely with all the cancer centers in Jeddah to assist in the care of patients. “Cancer does not necessarily mean certain death. There is still ignorance about this disease and the importance of early detection and continued checkups, especially in remote areas and villages where usually the patients only come to the hospital when the disease is in its advanced stages,” said Al-Angari.
The evening starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ministry of Social Affairs’ lecture hall in the Al-Hamra district.
