President of the University of Bahrain Participates in Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

President of the University of Bahrain Participates in Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

The President of the University of Bahrain, Prof.. Riyad Yousif Hamzah, affirmed the role of the College of Health Sciences in contributing to raising health awareness within the Bahraini community through organizing various awareness and educational campaigns on both national and international health occasions.

This statement came during his participation and the opening of a breast cancer awareness campaign organized by the College of Health Sciences under the slogan: “Don’t hesitate… Your screening today means safety,” held on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

Prof.. Hamzah emphasized the importance of supporting cancer patients by increasing awareness and reducing fear of the disease through education on its symptoms and treatment methods. He expressed hope that the community would adopt healthier lifestyles that are better suited to the daily demands of individual and societal life.

On her part, Dean of the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Amal Aqilah, addressed a group of students and university affiliates, encouraging them to participate in the college’s activities aimed at intensive awareness during the month of October.

Meanwhile, Dr. Maha Ibrahim Al-Sindi, Oncology Specialist at Salmaniya Medical Complex, highlighted the importance of women undergoing early breast cancer screening. She pointed out that the recovery rate exceeds 98% when the disease is detected in its early stages, and she urged women not to fear early testing.

Dr. Al-Sindi also mentioned that Bahrain has the highest rate of malignant tumor cases among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with 35% of cancer cases in the Kingdom affecting women—particularly after the age of forty. She explained that detection rates remain low and demonstrated how to perform self-examinations to identify benign or malignant breast lumps.

Students from the College of Health Sciences participated in the awareness campaign by distributing brochures and booklets about breast cancer, along with offering samples of healthy foods that help prevent malignant diseases.

The campaign also included a testimonial by Fatima Al-Aradi, a University of Bahrain staff member and breast cancer survivor, who shared her personal experience battling the disease. She recounted being diagnosed in 2009, with the cancer in its early stage, and undergoing surgery to remove it.

She said:

“I overcame the disease by the grace of God and with the support of my family and friends. This experience taught me strength and determination, and I now help others going through the illness by giving them the strength they need to overcome and conquer it.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 1.38 million new breast cancer cases annually, based on Globocan 2008 estimates by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The WHO confirms on its website that breast cancer is “the most common cancer among women in both developed and developing countries.” In recent years, cancer incidence has been steadily increasing in low- and middle-income countries, due to higher life expectancy, increased urbanization, and the adoption of Western lifestyles.

The campaign, held at the University of Bahrain’s Sakhir campus, saw participation from several entities, including:

• American Mission Hospital
• Bahrain Cancer Society
• Nutrition Department at the Ministry of Health
• Al Jazira Farms
• “Post of Hope” Group, a group of graduates from the College of Health Sciences

The campaign was coordinated by Samira Isa Hussain, Lecturer in the Nursing Department at the College of Health Sciences.

•