Supreme Council of Health Dedicates December to Childhood Cancer Awareness

Doha, December 19 (QNA) - Supreme Council of Health has decided to dedicate this month (December) to raise the awareness of Childhood Cancer, in response to one of the recommendations of the National Cancer Strategy which is to improve the awareness of cancer signs and symptoms. This is considered fundamental to improved early detection of cancer. The National Cancer Implementation Team at the Supreme Council of Health has developed an annual cancer awareness calendar in support of this. The Supreme Council of Health, Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation will be collaborating in effort to raise cancer awareness among the population of Qatar. The calendar identifies a range of topics to focus on including childhood cancer with a particular focus on Leukemia. It is well known that Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood cells or bone marrow, is the most common of childhood malignancies. The prevalence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is about four cases per 100,000 children worldwide with the largest numbers falling in the two to four years age range. In children, 97 percent of leukemias are acute while three percent are chronic. Of the acute leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common. Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many immature lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). White blood cells help the body to fight infections and other diseases. However, the leukemic cells do not work like normal lymphocytes and are not able to fight infection very well. As the number of these cells increases in the blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. In almost all cases of childhood leukemia, no apparent cause will be found, including in acute leukemia’s. However, ionizing radiation, chemicals, drugs and genetic considerations are felt to be important influences. Qatar s National Cancer Strategy emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment of cancer. Responding to the Qatar National Cancer Strategy s emphasis on early detection and treatment, the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Section at HMC is also involved in educating Primary Healthcare and Pediatric Emergency Center physicians on recognizing the symptoms of possible cancer in children early and how to refer them for diagnosis and treatment. The Supreme Council of Health’s responsibility is to guide reform in Qatar in order to establish one of the world’s most admired and renowned health systems. In contribution to this, the SCH published a cancer specific national strategy in May 2011 so that Qatar can become a centre of excellence in cancer care also. The strategy has drawn on international evidence, involved the people of Qatar and the result is a tailored to suit, comprehensive cancer strategy for Qatar. To ensure successful delivery, the recommendations there within have been issued to the collaborative organizations; SCH, Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation as appropriate. (QNA)