The Ministry of Health (MoH) is marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October with the launch of two new women’s health screening clinics in Al Hayat Mall and Panorama Mall in Riyadh, as a first step, to be disseminated to other areas throughout the year, in association with GE Healthcare, Asala Holding and Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Group.

The clinics complement the National Breast Cancer Screening Program launched by the ministry in 2012.

The first clinic was officially opened last week at Hayat Mall by Dr. Mansour Al-Hawasi, vice minister of health. The opening coincided with the launch of a month-long national breast cancer awareness campaign endorsed by the MoH at a number of malls across the Kingdom. The second clinic at Panorama Mall is expected to open this weekend.

The clinics are aimed at increasing access to essential health services for women and will offer general health checks, including height, weight and blood pressure assessments; clinical breast examinations and mammography screenings; and health education with an emphasis on the promotion of healthier lifestyle habits.

The two clinics staffed by female health care professionals, including qualified doctors, nurses, technicians and health educators, aim to screen around 10,000 women in 2015.

According to MoH statistics, breast cancer represents 19.9 percent of the total incidence of cancer among women, making it the highest rate among other cancer types.

“The launch of the two women’s health screening clinics is an initial expansion of the second phase of our National Breast Cancer Screening Program,” said Dr. Mohammed Saidi, director general of hereditary and chronic diseases. “We do our best to address breast cancer in Saudi Arabia, and improving the health of women generally and to enable them to conduct preventive examinations in many locations such as shopping malls, contributing to an enhanced level of awareness and reaffirm our commitment to developing health as a top priority,” added Saidi.