On behalf of His Excellency the Minister of Health Mr. Ahmad bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, His Excellency the Vice Minister of Health for Health Affairs, Dr. Mansour Al-Howasi, sponsored yesterday, Sunday, the inaugural ceremony of the "World Cancer Day", which is organized by the Saudi Cancer Society under the theme “Not Beyond Us”, at the Conferences Hall of King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh.
In his speech Dr. Al-Howasi expressed his happiness and honor for serving the cancer patients, a target that brought together the Ministry of Health "MOH" and the Saudi Cancer Society as a family, pointing out that this gathering today means that the framework of the Society and charitable activities moved from the concept of duty to the spirit of genuine cooperation to achieve all agreed-upon goals at the official, philanthropic and social levels.
In doing so, Dr. Al-Howasi cited how the supportive efforts, thanks to Allah, are making great strides and winning the confidence of philanthropists and the needy alike, a matter which reflects the concern and care of its workers. Dr. Al-Howasi was concluded as saying, "I would like to thank the Almighty Allah for choosing us to serve cancer patients in the Kingdom."
On his part, the Chairman of the Board of Director of the Saudi Cancer Society, Dr. Abdullah bin Suleiman Al-Amro, said that the whole world celebrates today the “World Cancer Day” which carries a lot of connotations and reflects a lot of hopes, adding that the patient's journey with cancer does not only mean a case of illness, treatment and recovery but also provides a number of psychological and physical effects that are eating his self-strength away and undermining his determination.
He pointed out that all communities all over the world celebrate the cancer patient to make him feel that he is the most important party and the core stone in the structure of his community, explaining that all research centers at universities, institutes and hospitals are in a race to disclose their latest experiments and best findings and all of them are exerting their utmost efforts to promote science and knowledge in order to diagnose the disease and find out its causes and ways of fighting it.
Dr. Al-Amro extended his thanks to His Excellency the Minister of Health and His Excellency the Vice Minister for their participation in the Saudi Cancer Society’s celebrations of this occasion and their keenness to support the health services and cultural and awareness events in the Kingdom. Then, the Saudi Cancer Society launched an initiative called “I am healing” and honored the actor Fayez Al-Malki with the title “Ambassador of Cancer Patients” in appreciation of his efforts to support the cancer patients throughout the Kingdom.
After that, Dr. Al-Howasi cut the ribbon to open an exhibition accompanying the “World Cancer Day 2015” ceremony held under the theme “Not Beyond Us”, which included a number of tumor sections at King Fahad Medical City, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud Medical City, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, a number of charitable societies, Zahra Breast Cancer Association and Sanad Association.
Also the Mutaafi (recovered) group, which is under the umbrella of the Saudi Cancer Society, participated in the events by bringing a number of cancer-recovered people in order to convey their experiences with the disease to the patients and their escorts, given that their participation was of great benefits to the audience and visitors of the exhibition.