Dr. Yasser bin Suleiman Shosho, Vice President of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), launched the “World Cancer Day” event at the University Medical Center, in the presence of Dr. Yasser bin Hassan Bahakeem, General Director of the University Medical Center, and Dr. Ali Al-Zahrani, Director of the Tobacco Control Program in Makkah Region, on Wednesday, Jumada Al-Thani 5, 1439 AH.

Dr. Shosho, UQU Vice President, toured all corners of the event and listened to all participants. He showed approval of this move through which the University Medical Center reflects the performance of its therapeutic and preventive role. He also turned everybody’s attention to the importance of effective participation in all the awareness activities that would promote health awareness in all segments of society. Meanwhile, he praised the positive role performed by the Center, which mirrors the quality of the medical services it provides to all UQU students and affiliates and their families. At the end of the tour, Dr. Shosho thanked all the entities participating in the event, and the work team that participated from the affiliates of the Center, praying to God to heal all the sick and keep everyone in sound and good health.

In his turn, Dr. Bahakeem, General Director of the Center, stated that the Center performs its preventive role through providing the best awareness and educational information to those referring to the Center in particular and to society in general. He clarified that this is by holding events for the international days and weeks for promoting health awareness, elucidating that one of the aims of holding this event is providing society with education and awareness on cancer diseases and methods of prevention as well as encouraging early detection for preventing and treating cancer. In the meantime, he said this event will last for two days through the period from the 5^th until the 6^th day of Jumada Al-Thani 1439 AH, from 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with the participation of King Abdullah Medical City in the Holy City of Makkah; the Administration of the Tobacco Control Program in Makkah Region; and the Department of Clinical Education at the Health Affairs in the Holy City of Makkah.

On the other hand, Dr. Bahakeem explained that this event includes hanging informative panels on the walls and preparing corners for awareness; distributing awareness leaflets and brochures as well as souvenirs featuring the types of cancers most common in KSA and methods of prevention; and displaying a visual presentation on the screens available at the reception hall, Center’s corridors, and waiting places. This is in addition to hanging a panel, which he called the Hope Painting, on the wall to help in providing emotional support to cancer patients. At the same time, he added that there will be clinics provided for anti-smoking health education as well as clinical education and early screening of some cancer diseases that target some groups of men and women. He further said the laboratory will participate in conducting some laboratory tests required in early screening for targeted groups, within the period of the event.

In the end, Dr. Bahakeem warmly thanked His Excellency Dr. Bakri bin Maatouq Assas, UQU President, and expressed his deep appreciation to him for his keenness on and encouragement to this kind of events and for the great support and attention given to the Center. Moreover, he heartily thanked Dr. Shosho, UQU Vice President, and expressed his great appreciation to him for attending and launching this event, and for his continuous follow-up on the tasks, activities, and events of the Center, which contributed to the quality of the therapeutic and preventive services provided to all UQU students and affiliates and those eligible for treatment at the Center. Meanwhile, he thanked all the entities participating in this event. And he thanked the Public Health Unit at the Center and the entire work team participating from the affiliates of the Center for their blessed efforts that contributed to preparing, directing, and implementing this event, praying to God the Almighty to heal all the sick and keep everyone in good health.