By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter
Cultural performances and a number of sport activities for children marked the World Cancer Day 2015 at Katara – the Cultural Village yesterday.
Groups of Arab performers enthralled a large number of visitors with their traditional dances and songs on stage and on Katara’s esplanade.
Wearing colourful costumes, one group attracted the audience with their well-executed presentation while another engaged people to sing and dance with them.
A “kids’ zone” was set up to encourage sports and physical activities such as basketball, golf, wrestling and football.
One of the highlights of the event was the awareness programme about the disease, focusing on how to prevent certain types of cancers. Volunteers distributed leaflets and provided useful information on preventing colorectal and prostate cancers.
Organisers set up a freedom wall where visitors could express their love and support to people living with cancer.
The Qatar Cancer Society urged the public to visit their online and social media portals: QatarCancerSociety2 on Facebook and QCS_Qatar on twitter.
Part of the celebration also included Maserati and vintage car exhibitions, the “Selfie for a 1,000 word” and face painting. Mascots and stilt walkers led the welcoming of visitors.
In Qatar, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, the National Cancer Programme (NCP) has reported. Urologic cancers are among the most common cancers among men. Lung and colorectal cancers also take a toll among residents in the country.
The National Cancer Programme launched an initiative last year as part of an awareness campaign. It aims to reduce the stigma associated with the disease.
Besides the festivity at Katara, the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR), in collaboration with Supreme Council of Health (SCH), organised a number of activities this month such as the “Walk for a Future Free of Cancer” on the Doha Corniche.
Leaflets and reading materials were distributed at the SCH lobby and Hamad Medical Corporation facilities recently.
Arab performers at the World Cancer Day 2015 celebation at Katara - the Cultural Village yesterday.
