Yesterday, at the Auditorium of King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh, Her Royal Highness, Princess Hessah Al-Sha'lan, Wife of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, inaugurated the National Campaign for Early Detection of Breast Cancer, organized by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
In his address to the ceremony, His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, welcomed Her Royal Highness, Princess Hessah Al-Sha'lan, and thanked her for her concern, attendance and generous patronage of the National Campaign for Early Detection of Breast Cancer.
Dr. Al-Rabeeh made clear that, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the prudent guidance of it great leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, May Allâh protect them, has paid close attention to health care. In this spirit, the Ministry of health has developed a ten-year strategy, based upon the principles of justice, comprehensiveness, integration, cooperation and transparency. All such principles have been originated by the Custodian of the Two Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, with a view to providing best-quality services for Saudi citizens, thus gaining their satisfaction, and putting into action the Ministry's slogan: Patient First.
He said, “The MOH's strategies place particular emphasis on women's crucial and indispensable role in the society's development. That is why the Ministry has devoted many of its programs to women's and mothers' health care, in concordance with the WHO's programs.”
“In this blessed night,” He added, “we are celebrating Her Royal Highness, the Wife of the Custodian's gracious patronage of the first phase of a pivotal health program; that is: Breast Cancer Early Detection. May Allâh protect all of us from all diseases.”
Dr. Al-Rabeeh expressed his gratitude to the Wife of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for her patronage and unstinting support. During the ceremony, a movie was screened. It tells about the experiences of a number of breast-cancer patients, and how they could get recovered from it. In conclusion of the ceremony, a commemorative gift was handed over to the patron of the inauguration ceremony, Her Royal Highness Princess Hessah Al-Sha'lan.
It should be noted that the National Program for Breast Cancer Early Detection, to be launched by the Ministry of Health, is meant to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in the Kingdom, and reduce its mortality accordingly. This objective could be attained by raising the awareness of the nature of the disease, its causes, ways of prevention, and, above all, early detection. The campaign places more emphasis on the improvement of early breast cancer detection, by way of self-examination, clinical examination, or through the mammography technique, as well as the improvement of the curative and rehabilitative services provided for patients. “It goes without saying that detection of breast cancer in its early phases is one of the most important secondary preventive strategies, as it increases the probability of recovery and survival by 98%, and, thus, lessens breast cancer mortality.
The Campaign is designed around four phases, aiming at the accomplishment of its objectives. The first phase, located in Riyadh, has to do with health awareness program, which is designed to be very feasible to women. MOH has dedicated a website to this campaign to encourage women to apply the breast cancer early detection method.
The second phase has to do with booking arrangements through calling the toll-free number of number of the Media Information and Health Awareness Centers: 8002494444. It should be noted, in this regard, that the Ministry has organized training and rehabilitation programs for the Center's employees, so as to be able to receive booking requests and encourage women for examination. The number of working hours has been determined from 7am to 3pm. Booking requests will be received and the appointments (and places) of examination will be determined, so that the caller could head for the proper primary healthcare center on time.
The third phase has to do with the examination itself, conducted by the mobile clinics provided by MOH for this reason. These clinics are staffed by radiologists and assistant officers to conduct examination on a number of 10.000 women over the first year. Furthermore, these clinics are equipped with digital mammograms. They will work in the vicinity of a number of the main primary health care centers in Riyadh from 8am to 4pm. Examination takes only a short time.
The last phase has to do with the treatment with those proven to have breast cancer. King Fahad Medical City will provide the proper medication in due time, as with as offering tips and counsels, as well as all forms moral and curative support for patients.