Breast cancer drive reaches out to thousands

NCP installed an interactive pink booth in different educational and health institutions in Doha, including Qatar University’s College of Art and Science, Aspire Active Ladies Club and Hamad Bin Khalifa University. The booths have  attracted  over 3,080 women throughout the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. NCP also distributed 3,000 informative leaflets giving vital information about breast cancer, the signs and symptoms and the different forms of prevention.

NCP also created ‘Monthlies’, a smartphone application targeting young women to help them become more breast-aware.

The app helps women keep track of their monthly cycle and sends notifications with gynaecological and breast advice. Since its release in the beginning of October, the Monthlies application was downloaded over 304 times over a period of three weeks.

Visitors were able to talk to female health professionals and share their health concerns and desire to learn more about prevention. Women who were interested to learn more about being breast aware were escorted to a viewing room inside the booth. The room screened a friendly instructional video featuring a medical mannequin and a demonstration of what being breast aware actually means.

Visitors also took home pink ribbons and bracelets carrying messages of hope to spread the word about breast cancer prevention and early detection.

According to recent registry data, 198 breast cancer cases (women only) were reported last year alone, rendering the disease the most common form of cancer among women in Qatar. However, research has shown that early detection of breast cancer offers better, more successful treatment options, saving thousands of lives each year. 

Other institutions such as Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, University of Calgary in Qatar and Stenden University Qatar have also shown their support to “Be Breast Aware” by handing out NCP informative leaflets to their female student community. NCP also partnered with Lulu Hypermarket and Intimissimi to promote the ‘Be Breast Aware’ campaign by attaching pink ribbons to the underwear on display.

Fitness institutions including Aspire Active Ladies Club, Qatar Women’s Sports Committee, The Venue at Al Sadd and Fitness First at City Center, also joined the cause and hung large pink, visually appealing posters in locker rooms and bathrooms.

Fiona Bonas, director of NCP, commented, “We are proud to announce “Be Breast Aware” campaign is a huge success, reaching out to thousands of women in Qatar and gaining vast interest and support from the community. We are motivated and excited to launch our upcoming campaigns in the fight against cancer in Qatar.”