‘Screen for Life’, Qatar’s National Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening programme, led by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), is observing a month-long campaign across social media and radio, in line with the global Movember movement which highlights men’s health issues, to raise awareness of the programme and encourage people to undergo screening for bowel cancer.
The campaign, titled ‘During Movember, don’t forget to screen for bowel cancer,’ is seeing the Screen for Life team engage with communities, citizens and residents across Qatar through the media campaign and awareness lectures emphasising the programme’s goal and stressing the benefits of screening in the early detection of cancer.
The campaign encourages men and women 50-74 years old to undergo screening for bowel cancer at one of the three dedicated Screen for Life facilities at Al Wakra, Leabaib and Rawdat Al Khail health centres.
This latest awareness drive follows the hugely successful Breast Cancer Awareness campaign held throughout October, during which the Screen for Life delivered a total of 15 awareness lectures and partnered with more than 30 public and private sector entities to enhance knowledge levels of the Screen for Life programme.
“Movember is an important global initiative to raise awareness of men’s health issues and it represents an essential opportunity to reach out to the community to continue raising awareness of bowel cancer screening,” said Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, cancer programme manager, PHCC.
“We were hugely encouraged by the response to the October campaign and are confident to keep on raising awareness of the importance of both breast and bowel cancer screening will have similar effects,” Dr Shaikha said, adding, “We want people to know we are there for them, and it is important that they take a proactive approach with their health by calling the call center and booking an appointment at one of our facilities.”
More information about Screen For Life can be collected by visiting the website www.screenforlife.qa or contact the call centre on 8001112.