Centre for cancer awareness opened

A first of its kind centre in the Middle East region dedicated to raise awareness about cancer officially opened in Doha yesterday. The Ooredoo Cancer Awareness Centre aims at educating children and adults mainly on cancer prevention, early detection and reduce the stigma associated with the disease. It will also support cancer patients and survivors to cope with the physical and psychological struggle.
The centre managed by the Qatar Cancer Society is funded by Ooredoo for construction and operations in a five-year agreement worth QR30m.
The state-of-the-art facility, housed at the 18th and 19th floors of Barwa Towers in Al Sadd, was officially inaugurated in the presence of Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Cancer Society, Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, Group CEO of Ooredoo, Dr Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Public Health and several other officials.
The centre will be offering educational programmes, awareness lectures, and support for all age groups including students, people with special needs, private and government employees, cancer survivors, health care providers, in addition to cancer patients and their caregivers. “This centre will not only offer support for cancer patients, their families and survivors, but ensure field training for medical students and education for everyone, so that our communities can fight this together,” said Waleed Mohamed Ebrahim Al Sayed, CEO, Ooredoo Qatar.
Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor Al Thani said: “This facility is truly the meeting of two worlds. Alongside our expertise in healthcare and education, Ooredoo has provided the latest technology to help spread the message and ensure it's heard. The centre will implement an awareness strategy to help change the mindset of the people about cancer and reduce the stigma associated with the disease, and it will also help increase awareness about healthy lifestyle to prevent cancer.”
“We will be reaching all segments of the community through our programmes. But to begin with will be focusing on healthcare workers and students,” he added.
The centre has a lecture hall to accommodate more than 100 people and is equipped with multimedia and telecommunications facilities. It also has audio-visual aids. It also has a meeting and VIP hall and another smaller lecture hall.
The centre also has a workshop room for classes for special demonstrations. A kids classroom has also set up. The electronic library at the centre has journals, text books, and databases.
At the healthy kitchen, students, cancer patients, survivors and other participants will be taught to make nutritious meals and the cooking session will be also telecast on TV channels.