KUWAIT CITY, Nov 4:  Dr. Bader Al-Mutairi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to participating in awareness campaigns for prostate cancer. This initiative aims to protect individuals within the professional and occupational community by ensuring their health and raising awareness about the disease.

Dr. Al-Mutairi's remarks were delivered by Dr. Bader Al-Dhafiri, Director of the Technical Affairs Department at the ministry, during the launch of the "Kuwait Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign for Those Over 50." The campaign is organized by the National Cancer Awareness Campaign (CAN) under the patronage of Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi and in cooperation with the Kuwait Urological Association.

The campaign is designed to align with the institutional partnerships that support the objectives of both the Ministries of Health and Awqaf. It aims to foster community collaboration between civil society organizations and state ministries. The initiative coincides with the global awareness month for prostate cancer, focusing on educating the public, promoting prevention, identifying early symptoms, and encouraging early screenings through the PSA blood test to enhance cure rates for patients.

Dr. Al-Mutairi commended the efforts of those involved in the CAN campaign for their dedication to providing top-notch awareness services regarding cancer and promoting health awareness across various segments of society to achieve health security in Kuwait.

Dr. Khaled Al-Saleh, Chairman of CAN, echoed these sentiments, stating that the campaign reflects CAN's ongoing commitment to enhancing public health and raising awareness about prostate cancer. He emphasized that the initiative aims to deliver health information about the disease, offering specialized medical staff for direct consultations in shopping malls and through lectures, while encouraging screenings for tumor markers. Elevated levels of these markers indicate a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, making community awareness crucial, especially among the first generation.

The campaign will include multiple events to reach a broader audience in the target age group, particularly since prostate cancer has become an important indicator of increasing incidence among men.

According to 2020 statistics from the Kuwait Cancer Control Center, the incidence rate among Kuwaitis is 51 new cases annually, accounting for 8.7% of cancer cases. Among non-Kuwaiti men, there are 40 new cases each year, representing 6.6% of all cancer cases among this demographic. KAN has adopted this initiative to encourage men over 50 to engage in suitable health practices, particularly through PSA testing for prostate cancer.

Dr. Al-Saleh noted that CAN is dedicated to raising health awareness through diverse strategies, aiming for the highest impact on public health. The organization focuses on sustainability by promoting healthy lifestyles and implementing early screenings to detect diseases, emphasizing the importance of public health care.

The event featured an awareness lecture by Dr. Khaled Bouhindi, a urology specialist with an Italian fellowship in robotic surgery and oncology, who discussed the symptoms, causes, complications, risk factors, and methods of prevention and treatment for prostate cancer.