The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has launched a month-long bowel cancer awareness drive across major shopping malls.

Under the tagline ‘Don’t wait for the symptoms,’ the initiative is meant to mark the international Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a global campaign to educate people that because bowel cancer can be a non-symptomatic illness, it is imperative not to wait for symptoms to undergo screening as a precautionary measure.

The message is being conveyed to the Qatar public throughout the month of March, with a number of ‘Screen For Life’ activation booths strategically located in lifestyle destinations that attract large numbers of people.

Bowel cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Qatar and a leading cause of death among men and women if not caught at its early stages.

In line with the global bowel cancer awareness slogan, ‘Screen For Life’ team will engage shoppers with reminder messages urging both men and women, specifically in the target age bracket of 50-74, to take a proactive approach to their health and book an appointment at one of the three dedicated facilities at Al Wakra, Lebaib and Rawdat Al Khail Health Centres.

The awareness booths are positioned at Villagio Mall until March 10 and Landmark Mall from March 11 to 20.

‘Screen For Life’ representatives will be on hand to accept on-site registrations where the eligible visitor can write down their information and the programme’s call centre will call them to schedule an appointment to undergo the screening.

The public will be reminded that they can carry out the Fecal Immunochemical Test with ease in the privacy of their own home and they can collect their complementary kit from one of the PHCC screening centres.

“Strategically positioning the ‘Screen For Life’ booths in Qatar’s malls throughout March will allow us to engage with large numbers of people as we seek to capitalise on the great work of the programme to date and continue raising awareness levels. The tagline ‘Don’t wait for the symptoms’ is a poignant one and we are confident it will resonate with people and encourage them to take charge of their health,” said Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, cancer programme manager, PHCC.