Name:                         Hon. Yuthar Mohammed Msselem Al Rawahy

Date of birth:             8^th may 1951 

Place of birth:            Tanzania

Education:                  Public relations and Office Automation

Professional background: Medical education officer, SQU

Current profession:  Founder and President of The Oman Cancer Association (OCA)

Member of the State Council

Yuthar Mohammed Al Rawahy was born in Tanzania. Her family returned to Oman in 1970. Yuthar was an ambitious girl who dreamt to become a dentist. She almost concluded her education but could not finish it because of personal reasons. 

Yuthar was 48 years old, healthy mother of five children working in the Deans office in the College of Medicine at Sultan Qaboos University when she was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer.  Six months latter she was diagnosed with breast cancer and during her treatment they found cancer cells in her uterus.  However, thanks to tremendous support from family and friends, she emerged as a determined and courageous woman and vowed to carry on with her struggle against cancer and worked hard to promote awareness about this life-threatening disease.

Yuthar Said, "cancer has changed my life forever.  I realized that there is a reason why my life was spared while so many of my family members and closed friends succumbed to this disease."  In 2000 she decided to call a meeting with few other cancer survivors.  To her surprise and dismay, over 200 women attended the meeting; all curious to know more about the disease.  This is when she decided to take medical retirement from her job at the University and form a cancer awareness group.  In 2004 the group was registered as the "National Association for Cancer Awareness" by the Ministry of Social Development.

The Association has won numerous awards and accolades for its initiatives like the Mobile Mammography Unit, introducing free breast screening to all women and Dar Al Hanan, a home for children suffering from cancer and their family reliving out side the Muscat region.

"Don't try to be equal to men, because men and women are very different. A woman should realize her respect, importance, and should understand that she is the nucleus of her family.  I feel Oman is unique compared to other countries, because we have the support of his Majesty, and there is no one stopping the development of women in Oman, it is up to us to take advantage of this opportunity and support our society."

Yuthar says, the UN Assembly, celebrates International women's day to recognize that peace and social progress requires the active participation and equality of women, and to acknowledge the contribution of women to International peace and development. We should celebrate it every day. When my children ask me what I would like for mothers day, I just replied them that they are my gift and I am proud of them.