February 4, 2013 (Doha, Qatar)

In support of World Cancer Day, Sidra Medical and Research Center hosted its own World Cancer Day event to raise awareness and share information among 60 Sidra staff and invited guests. In collaboration with Think Pink Qatar, Sidra held an informative session on cancer and cancer prevention. The event took place in the auditorium of the Sidra Medical and Research Center Tower in Doha.

Every year an estimated 12.7 million people will learn they have cancer and around 7.6 million people will die from it1. Many of these deaths could be avoided through awareness and early detection programs. World Cancer Day is an initiative to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment, while giving voice to the people, organizations and governments celebrating cancer survivors and remembering those who lost the battle.

Speaking at the event was Carol Newsom, Sidra RN Clinical Nurse Leader, and Think Pink Qatar Founder Karen Al Kharouf. Two cancer survivors also spoke to the audience about the realities of cancer and how it affected their families, friends and personal lives. They highlighted the importance of early detection, prevention, and staying healthy.

Newsom informed the audience about myths and taboos around cancer with the hope of breaking down common stereotypes and opening lines of dialogue between individuals suffering from cancer and the broader community. She stressed the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to prevent cancer and early detection.

"According to the World Health Organization, it is possible to avoid around 30-40 percent of cancer cases with prevention and another 30 percent with early detection and treatment. Some of the easiest changes a person can make consist of making simple lifestyle changes, including: quitting smoking, limiting alcohol use, regularly exercising, wearing sunscreen, and eating a rich diet filled with vitamins and minerals," she said.

Al Kharouf said, "Think Pink Qatar works to ensure that conversations about breast cancer in Qatar happen freely and openly, that individuals suffering from breast cancer get the support they need, an important part of which is having a strong support system. I am so happy to see that Sidra employees are embracing this approach with today's event and the brave survivors who spoke to us today."

Sidra aims to empower and educate members of the local community through easily available information and access to experts. Through lecture series for the medical community like the Sidra Symposia Series, and these community outreach programs, Sidra aims to create a healthier society.

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About Sidra Medical and Research Center
Sidra Medical and Research Center will be a groundbreaking hospital, research and education institution, currently under construction in Doha, Qatar, focusing on the health and wellbeing of women and children regionally and globally. Sidra will be a fully digital facility, incorporating the most advanced information technology applications in clinical, research and business functions. Sidra will initially have around 400 beds with infrastructure to enable expansion to 550 beds in a subsequent phase.

Sidra represents the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser who serves as its Chairperson. The high-tech facility will not only provide world-class patient care but will also help build Qatar's scientific expertise and resources. Sidra will be funded by a US$7.9 billion endowment from Qatar Foundation, one of the largest endowments of its kind in the world.

Sidra is part of a dynamic research and education environment in Qatar that includes leading international institutions, such as: Sidra's academic partner Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, and Qatar Science and Technology Park. Through strong partnerships with leading institutions around the world, Sidra is creating an intellectual ecosystem to help advance scientific discovery through investment in medical research.

Sidra will have a unique working structure with inter-professional collaboration at the heart, providing the best holistic care for patients and an unparalleled learning environment for its medical professionals. Sidra will combine the best in design, technology, operations and practices from medical centers around the world - to offer its employees an environment that is at once familiar and extraordinary.
 
For further information, please contact:
Doha, Qatar (EST +8 hours)
Khalid Al Mohannadi
Email: kalmohannadi@sidra.org
Tel: +974 4404 2012

Rakiya Farah
Email: rfarah@sidra.org
Tel: +974 4404 2366

© Press Release 2013