Friday 26 / April / 2024
Muscat: Oman Cancer Association has launched a ‘Pink Ribbon’ initiative to create greater awareness in the country during the month of October, which is also the global breast cancer awareness month.
“We have been creating awareness at a number of the malls, at the Muscat Grand Mall, Muscat and the Qurum City Centre, Al Mouj Muscat, the Oman Avenues Mall, every weekend from Thursday to Saturday, where we advocate for cancer awareness, prevention and control and also talk to people on a one-to-one basis,” said Dr. Wahid Al Kharusi, chairperson of OCA.
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The annual walkathon, which is now in its thirteenth year will be held on November 1, from 4pm to 6pm at the Qurum Natural Park. T-shirts marking this occasion are already on sale in malls, at the OCA office in Al Azaiba, and in some schools. They cost OMR3.5 each.
Caps, mugs and other OCA merchandise are also on sale to raise funds and spread awareness.
OCA will also be holding four workshops from October 22 to 30 on four different topics—the first one will cater to volunteers, the second will be held for journalists and it will teach them how to report and understand cancer, the third workshop will focus on leadership for the health professionals and the last one will train them in how to do research.
An art exhibition is scheduled for October 26 at the Grand Hyatt Muscat, where artworks will be displayed from 7pm to 10.30pm to raise funds.
Several artists have donated their works for this.
Apart from this, palliative care and community nurses are also being given special attention during the month of November. OCA will further train and help upgrade the nurses’ skills during a five-day workshop aimed at enhancing their leadership and research methods.
Al Kharusi further said the OCA has been recognised as a centre for excellence, “OCA has been recognised as the only centre outside the United States that is accredited as a centre for excellence for cancer protection and control because of the work we have done.”
Plans are also underway to send a group of volunteers and cancer survivors to climb the Mount Kilimanjaro, as a step further towards spreading cancer awareness and promoting a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
OCA has teamed up with City Centre to spread awareness in the mall over the next few days.
City Centre Muscat and City Centre Qurum have joined forces with OCA in its mission to empower people and spread the awareness about the deadly, yet treatable disease: breast cancer.
The malls will host a comprehensive range of events from October 18 until November 1.
City Centre Mall has partnered with OCA to spread the word on breast cancer.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Said Al Kalbani, minister of Social Development, inaugurated a campaign in the leisure court area of City Centre Muscat on Tuesday.
The programme will include an informative presentation explaining the mammography process, fine needle biopsy, and ultrasound.
Additionally, a specialist will be available to teach women on how to conduct clinical breast examinations, empowering them to detect any early signs, while light entertainment music and a children’s corner will keep families and loved ones busy.
