Zian Maimish, assistant deputy health minister for preventive medicine, said the campaign will examine around 10,000 women aged between 40-65 in Riyadh region in the next 12 months. He thanked the princess for her humane gesture and constant support for social and health care causes.
The Ministry of Health became involved with cancer by establishing in 1994 the National Registry for Cancer and later the Cancer Combat Program in 2004. Maimish revealed that among Saudi women the prevalence of breast cancer is still one of the lowest in the world.
"We had only 1,259 cases of breast cancer of the total 4,773 cancer cases registered until 2007 in the country. And that accounts for 26 percent of the total," he said.
"The campaign will cover a full spectrum of health care practices to manage breast cancer. It will focus on timely diagnosis, advanced treatment, greater public awareness to reduce the incidence of this disease in the country," he added.
A recent report by a British journal said women diagnosed with breast cancer in the Middle East are almost 10 years younger than those diagnosed in Western countries. When diagnosed, Saudi women with breast cancer are usually at an advanced stage of the disease.
The campaign comprises four phases, commencing with an awareness campaign, followed by a booking for a screening, the screening, and finally the treatment for the discovered cases.
As part of the campaign a number of mobile clinics will be deployed near key primary health care centers in heavily populated neighborhoods in Riyadh. These clinics feature female radiographers and other support staff to execute the screening process.
The Ministry of Health in collaboration with King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh, organized the campaign.
