The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), in partnership with global pharmaceutical leader MSD, held a scientific workshop to mark Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
The event aimed to enhance healthcare professionals' ability to diagnose and detect lung cancer early, improving patient outcomes and quality of life during and after treatment.
Aligned with the World Health Organization’s goal of reducing cancer mortality rates by 30% by 2030, the workshop emphasized the critical role of early detection in increasing survival rates, with research indicating a 60% improvement in five-year survival for early-detected cases. Discussions focused on innovative awareness programs for high-risk groups and initiatives to reduce lung cancer prevalence, cementing the UAE’s global leadership in proactive healthcare services.
Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Public Health Sector, highlighted the importance of strategic collaborations in advancing early detection and prevention efforts.
“These partnerships enable us to equip healthcare professionals with the latest scientific knowledge to combat lung cancer effectively,”
he stated.
Dr. Buthaina Bin Belaila, Head of the Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Department, stressed the Ministry’s commitment to tobacco control, advocating for smoking cessation, smoke-free environments, and reduced air pollution to lower lung cancer risks.
Ashraf Mallak, Managing Director of MSD Gulf, reiterated the significance of staying informed on prevalent cancers to adopt effective detection and treatment strategies, aligning with the UAE’s national health agenda.
Lung cancer, the sixth most common cancer in the UAE, accounted for 231 cases in 2021 among individuals aged 50 and above. The country remains a global leader in advanced cancer care, with lower prevalence rates than international averages, according to WHO data.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
