KUWAIT CITY, Feb 4: Kuwait joins the world in observing World Cancer Day today, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to raising awareness, supporting cancer patients, and providing advanced medical treatments to combat the disease. Each year on February 4, countries intensify their efforts to show solidarity with cancer patients and improve access to treatment, reflecting the spirit of the World Summit Against Cancer held in Paris in 2000. The summit led to the adoption of the Paris Charter, which established World Cancer Day to promote global research, prevention, and treatment efforts.

Since then, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the largest global organization dedicated to cancer prevention, has coordinated international efforts to mark this day, focusing on reducing the global burden of cancer and alleviating the suffering of those affected. Kuwait remains deeply committed to enhancing awareness and delivering high-quality healthcare services to combat cancer and provide support for those impacted.

Kuwait's efforts in cancer care date back to 1968 with the establishment of the Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC). The center provides specialized care to over 2,000 patients annually using state-of-the-art medical equipment and services. In 2016, KCCC's nuclear medicine department received the prestigious European Quality Certificate, making it the first specialized center in the Gulf and the Middle East to earn this recognition. Furthermore, the center's achievements in nuclear medicine led to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) honoring KCCC in 2018 for its contributions to cancer treatment and its effective collaboration with the IAEA.

In October 2024, the Ministry of Health announced plans to open a new Kuwait Cancer Control Center with a capacity of 618 beds. This new facility will feature advanced technologies in radiation therapy and other cutting-edge treatment methods, significantly enhancing the country's healthcare system.

Over the years, the Ministry of Health has launched various cancer awareness initiatives, including the National Program for Early Detection of Breast Diseases, introduced in 2014. This program targets women over the age of 40, providing early detection services across five specialized centers throughout Kuwait, equipped with advanced diagnostic tools such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Kuwait has also played a key role in supporting scientific research and improving healthcare globally through initiatives such as the State of Kuwait Prize for Combating Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Diabetes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This prize promotes regional cooperation in disease eradication and recognizes individuals making significant contributions in prevention, control, or research.

In addition to these efforts, Kuwait launched the National Cancer Awareness Campaign (CAN) in 2006 to educate the public about various types of cancer, promote early detection, and train healthcare professionals in cancer diagnosis. The Sidra Association for Psychological Care of Cancer Patients, founded in 2012, has been instrumental in providing emotional support and creating a positive environment for cancer patients, while the Patients Helping Funding Society, established in 1979, offers financial and medical support to cancer patients both within Kuwait and abroad. This includes initiatives such as the Breast Cancer Treatment Project, the Cancer Patients Endowment Project, and the Wellness Ambassadors Initiative, which focuses on treating serious diseases, including cancer.

Additionally, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development continues to support healthcare institutions around the world, particularly in countries such as Jordan and Lebanon, by providing cancer treatments and assistance to those affected by the disease, including Syrian refugees.

As Kuwait joins the global community in celebrating World Cancer Day, it continues its tireless efforts to provide the best services aimed at raising awareness, supporting those affected, and offering the latest medical advancements in the fight against cancer.