KNC Launches Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative

The National Campaign for Cancer Awareness (Kaan) launched today, Wednesday, its annual breast cancer awareness initiative under the slogan “Your Awareness Is Your Pink Seatbelt,” aiming to enhance health awareness and encourage early detection of the disease, coinciding with the global Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

In an opening address, Dr. Khaled Al-Saleh, Chairman of the Campaign’s Board of Directors, emphasized that early detection provides patients with greater opportunities for effective treatment and better outcomes, stressing the importance of sustained health education and awareness efforts.

Al-Saleh noted that “breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Kuwait and constitutes a public health issue that requires heightened awareness of warning signs and encouragement for women to seek medical advice without delay.”

He called for strengthening women’s awareness of their health, urging them to pay attention to any unusual changes and to seek medical consultation when such changes are observed, while noting that self-awareness does not replace specialized medical examinations.

For her part, Dr. Hessa Al-Shahin, a member of Kaan’s Board of Directors and head of the breast cancer awareness initiative, stated during her speech at the event that Kaan has successfully trained 197,000 high school students since 2010 in self-examination and early detection, thanks to the efforts of more than 1,000 physical education teachers who have become certified trainers in this field.

Al-Shahin added that the initiative’s activities include exhibitions, lectures, training workshops, awareness sessions, community events, and sports activities, alongside printed materials and educational resources that present health information in a simplified manner, with the goal of transforming knowledge into healthy behaviors and lifestyle habits.

She noted that the initiative’s launch is carried out in partnership with the Sidra Association for Psychological Care of Cancer Patients, with support from several private sector companies, and in collaboration with the International Women’s Group, as well as participation from the Media Office of the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Department.

The opening ceremony featured an art exhibition titled “When Art Speaks About Women… What Does It Say?” in cooperation with the Syndicate of Artists and Media Professionals, along with the recognition of several sponsoring and supporting entities of the initiative.