RIYADH, 11 May 2006 — The Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide cancer awareness campaign. It aims to help combat the idea that cancer carries a social stigma and reduce the costs of treatment for patients suffering from malignancy. The costs can run as high as SR500,000 annually.
On behalf of Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie, Deputy Health Minister for Planning and Development, Dr. Khaled Al-Aiban, launched the multi-million riyal campaign. The yearlong project is being supported by various drug companies.
Dr. Aiban said the ministry hopes to carry out this program at all levels and in all parts of the Kingdom since there is no age barrier to the disease. “It can affect men and women, young and old,” he said, pointing out that the disease has been on the increase for the past few years. He pointed out that every cancer patient is treated free-of-charge.
The campaign will be carried out in schools, universities, mosques, market places, primary health care centers, playgrounds and at community halls.
Campaign chairman Dr. Mushabbab Al-Asiri said that a total of 7,000 patients were treated for cancer in 2001 and an equal number died of malignancy during the same period. “Cancer carries no social stigma; patients suffering from malignancy need not feel ashamed. It affects them through no fault of their own,” he explained.
Dr. Al-Asiri said that the success rate of curing cancer in the US is around 60 percent compared to the Kingdom which is 30 to 40 percent. “This is because of the high degree of awareness of the disease among Americans,” he noted.
Amal Moawiya Abu Al-Jedaie, head of the women’s section in the health education department at the ministry, said that the ministry’s call center would open its telephone lines to answer queries from Saturday. The public can contact 01-2916754 to get information related to cancer.
