Cancer society unveils new identity and strategy

well as its vision and strategy, the society  disclosed a new logo that takes the shape of a butterfly - representing life. The QCS is introducing the new strategy of focusing on dedicated initiatives to battle cancer at local, regional and global levels. “For the past 16 years, the society has been working only locally and now we are moving into the international stage and we have just achieved the first phase of our plan, which is the announcement of our new name and logo,” QSC chairman Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani said. The QNCS was  founded in 1997 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and dedicated to cancer prevention and treatment in Qatar. According to Dr Khalid bin Jabor, the society already covers  the treatment expenses of expatriates who suffer from any type of cancer at the Al Amal Cancer Hospital. The society also invites oncologists and cancer specialists from renowned centres across the world to Qatar to treat and perform surgery on local patients. “We are now moving into screening of people for cancers and in due course we will be launching mobile clinics that will visit patients, who could not attend hospital and provide them with care right inside their homes,” Dr Khalid bin Jabor said. The society, which has been subsisting on donations from corporate organisations, is talking to a number of financial institutions, both locally and internationally, on funding possibilities. He said the next phase for the society would be the launch of its website within the next few weeks, which is expected to serve as resource database for medical professionals as well as the public. He explained that the paradigm of the new strategy included devoted  research in cancer, increasing public awareness on causes, prevention, early detection, treatment and survival methods associated with the disease. The third phase  will be to inaugurate a Qatar Cancer Academy geared towards providing certified programmes to medical practitioners in the country. Dr Khalid bin Jabor  announced plans  to collaborate with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies ,  on initiatives aimed at reducing  the cancer risk worldwide. “GSK is launching an awareness campaign about cervical cancer targeting all females aged 10 and above. The new campaign aims to educate schoolchildren and the general public at large about prevention measures against cancer,” he said. Aside its local Qatari partners, the QCS will  be partnering with a number of internationally renowned institutions such as MD Andersen Cancer Centre, George Washington University, the Minnesota Cancer Society as well as the Arab Women Investors Union. Al Rayyan Television is the official TV station for the society as it has agreed to exclusively carry QCS’ awareness campaign messages”, according to Dr Khalid bin Jabor. “QCS is looking forward to further collaborate with other educational and financial institutions in Qatar.” The press conference was  attended by GSK country manager Ibrahim Shalaby and Virginia Piper Cancer Institute’s Neuro-Oncology medical director and the University of Minnesota Medical School clinical professor Dr John Trusheim. From gulftimes