File photo of a cancer awareness drive by College of North Atlantic Qatar. Image used for representation.
Screen for Life, a national programme that promotes awareness and early detection of cancer in Qatar, is preparing to launch different projects in 2017 with an aim to reach a large number of people.
With the high incidence of breast and bowel cancer in the country, the campaign by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) encourages people without symptoms to screen for cancer.
“Since the launch of ‘Screen for life’ in January 2016, the programme has made significant steps towards spreading awareness in the Qatar community, and we are moving at a very fast pace in a short time frame, making remarkable achievements,” Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, Manager Cancer Programme Division, PHCC, told The Peninsula.
“The Primary Health Care Corporation has taken a vital leap forward in promoting Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening awareness through a multitude of channels under our two main pillars as awareness and services.
We will also be launching several initiatives throughout the year of 2017,” she added.
At present, Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening Centers in Al Wakra, Leabaib and Rawdat Al Khail Health Centers and a mobile unit are dedicated for screening. The Mobile Screening Unit travels to different health centers and awareness campaigns.
“The Mobile Unit is programed to visit various health centers across the country as per a pre-determined schedule,” said Dr Abu Shaikha.
All women aged between 45 and 69 who are not suffering from any breast cancer related symptoms are invited to undergo screening. As for the Bowel Cancer Screening, all men and women aged between 50 and 74, who again are not suffering from any bowel cancer related symptoms are urged to make a screening appointment.
“Eligible people for the screening have to match two criteria. The first is that they have to be asymptomatic. The second criteria is that they have to be within the targeted age,” Dr Abu Shaikha.
The targeted people are invited to call our dedicated Call Center on 8001112 and schedule an appointment for screening at either of Al Wakra, Leabaib or Rawdat Al Khail health centers or in the Mobile Screening Unit, which is at present dedicated for mammograms.
“At PHCC we have made sure to make the screening procedure as simple as possible. Eligible people are required to call our dedicated Call Center and schedule an appointment,” said Dr Abu Shaikha.
“A detailed brochure on Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening is distributed in all health centers and an animated video is played in all health centers waiting halls where people can read and watch all instructions and phases of screening,” she added.
