The next summit of the Gulf Federation for Cancer Control will be held in Sharjah, it was announced on Saturday.
The meeting, held in a different GCC country every two years, will be hosted by the Friends of Cancer Patients society in Sharjah.
A union of 12 non-government organisations from across the region, the federation aims to help support cancer patients and their families, and educate about the disease.
Ameera Binkaram, president of the board of trustees and a founding member of the Friends of Cancer Patients, said the organisation has been praised for its role in helping to support sufferers.
“The success that we have achieved in reaching our mission in the UAE is the outcome of collaboration between various stakeholders,” she said.
“On top of these efforts come the directions and unparalleled support graciously offered by our leaders.
“We are very content to be sharing experience with our counterparts in other GCC countries.”
Among the society’s initiatives is the Pink Caravan, a UAE-wide breast cancer initiative, offering free screening, clinical examination and lectures on the disease.
The initiative has offered free medical care to 22,877 women and men in the country in the past three years.
The society is preparing for next year’s campaign, which will be launched on February 15 and will see 100 riders travel through Sharjah, Dubai, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.
They will be raising awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection.
vtodorova@thenational.ae
