KUWAIT: Dr Ibtihal Fadel, Head of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Alliance for Non-Communicable and Communicable Diseases, praised Kuwait for its pioneering role in the training of medical professionals. She referred to a recent regional report that highlights Kuwait’s implementation of one of the key Sustainable Development Goals — the development of healthcare professionals — particularly in the field of cancer treatment and awareness.
Dr Fadel commended the ongoing efforts of the National Cancer Awareness Campaign (CAN), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, which has successfully carried out its mission for over 12 years. She emphasized that the campaign stands as a model for regional initiatives focused on combating chronic diseases through education and early detection.
Meanwhile, Dr Khalid Ahmed Al-Saleh, Chairman of the National Cancer Awareness Campaign (CAN), announced the continued implementation of the training program aimed at enhancing early cancer diagnosis. The initiative targets primary care physicians, dentists, and nursing staff as part of a longstanding and effective partnership with the Ministry of Health. Dr Al-Saleh explained that the campaign seeks to train dentists in detecting early signs of oral cancers and familiarize them with the latest scientific developments in the field. Simultaneously, primary care physicians are being trained to identify early signs of several cancers, including breast, colorectal, head and neck, thyroid, and prostate cancers.
He stressed that the early detection program plays a critical role in expediting the referral process, thereby improving patient outcomes, minimizing patient suffering, and increasing recovery rates. In addition, the program includes specialized training for nurses, focusing on communication skills with cancer patients and their families, in an effort to enhance the overall quality and humanity of healthcare services. To date, the program has trained 1,617 dentists, 1,656 primary care physicians, and 2,843 nurses. According to Dr Al-Saleh, these figures reflect CAN’s commitment to sustainable health development and its positive impact on reducing late-stage cancer diagnoses.
Dr Al-Saleh expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Health for its ongoing support and dedication to empowering healthcare professionals with updated knowledge and skills. He also extended appreciation to the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialties for endorsing the program with Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, which further encourage healthcare providers to participate in the training. “This initiative serves the best interest of patients and reflects our shared goal of delivering high-quality healthcare,” he concluded.
