Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, has applauded the joint efforts by Friends of Cancer Patients, FoCP, and World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control, UICC, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Royal Patron of FoCP, the International Ambassador of the UICC, and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC.

He commended the role of the FoCP and UICC on spreading awareness about cancer, providing psychological and financial support to patients and helping them to continue their treatment.

Nahyan made the remarks while receiving Dr. Cary Adams, CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control and chairperson of the Non Communicable Diseases, NCD, Alliance, who is currently on a visit to the UAE.

The meeting comes as part of Adams' tour of UAE organisations to keep them informed and updated on UICC's efforts to fight cancer, as well as to highlight the Union's strategic partnership with the Friends of Cancer Patients.

The meeting was attended by Ameera BinKaram, President of the Board of Trustees and founding member of FoCP, Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, General Manager of the FoCP, and Katie Dain, Executive Director of the NCD Alliance.

"These collaborative efforts between a UAE society, FoCP, that has exceptional experience in helping cancer patients and their families, and a highly experienced and professional United Nations organisation, the UICC, has helped to alleviate the ordeal of many cancer patients, enhanced their recovery opportunities and we hope, put a smile on their faces," Sheikh Nahyan said.

He underlined the fact that helping other people, as well as involvement in establishing stability and peace in the world, is a moral commitment and religious and humanitarian duty embraced by Emirati citizens and follows the example set out by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the UAE and pioneer of global humanitarian work.

Adams updated Sheikh Nahyan on all the details related to the International Childhood Cancer Fund, launched by Sheikha Jawaher in Geneva, Switzerland, in May this year, which seeks to support children with cancer and save many children's lives worldwide.

He also praised the humanitarian role the UAE plays on the global stage in advocating for and supporting the needy across the globe. He commended Sheikha Jawaher's significant role helping cancer patients, and said that the UICC considers Sheikha Jawaher as one of the most important, influential and strategic partners, able and willing to implement projects to provide support for children with cancer worldwide.

"The UAE's humanitarian efforts will go down in history as it has emerged as a leader in launching initiatives to ensure the provision of care and treatment for underprivileged and needy people around the world. Such a noble stance stems from its leaders' belief in human rights and social justice, and I applaud the UAE's call to put humanitarian issues on the agenda of international humanitarian organisations and bodies. The UAE takes the initiative and acts rapidly to put ideas into sustainable projects that have a high-impact and saves lives," he said.

Ameera BinKaram also received Adams in the presence of board member Mohammed Al Musharrakh, Head of Investment Promotion at the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, General Manager of FoCP, and other FoCP board members and staff to discuss further collaboration. They also discussed upcoming joint projects spanning the next three years which includes many programmes aimed at combating cancer and reducing its spread, along with providing support to patients around the world.

BinKaram said, "The visit of the CEO of UICC comes as we strive to unify the efforts of fighting cancer for the next three years. We intend to develop FoCP's institutional and operational levels and to benefit from the international expertise of the UICC to meet new challenges facing the international community in the fields of oncology and cancer in particular and Non-Communicable Diseases in general. Especially after the UN announced its Millennium Development goals post-2015 and focused on individual and community health."

In June 2013, the UICC named Sheikha Jawaher as the official International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration, WCD, and the first WCD International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer in the world.

The appointment of Sheikha Jawaher to this high-profile post came in recognition of her outstanding efforts in supporting policies aim at boosting the fight against cancer in all its forms locally and globally. It also recognises her initiatives launched to raise awareness among community members about the seriousness of the disease and the need for early detection, and ensuring better ways to provide care and treatment to patients and support their families.
Source: WAM