Health minister receives international cancer prevention delegation

AMMAN — Health Minister Firas Hawari on Monday received a delegation of international cancer prevention experts from World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

The delegation is visiting the Kingdom this week at the Ministry of Health’s request to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Jordan’s national capacities and cancer control needs, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During the meeting, Hawari stressed the need to intensify cancer prevention and early detection efforts in Jordan, especially as future estimates forecast an increase in the number of cancer cases due to increased exposure to carcinogens, primarily smoking, obesity and population aging.

The minister praised international experts’ support for the national technical committees concerned with cancer control to launch a national strategic plan with an executive action scheme.

He also stressed the importance of enhancing infrastructure and employee training to implement cancer detection programmes, especially for breast, colon and lung cancer.

Hawari also called for launching national treatment guidelines which consider the rapid technological development in cancer medicines and financial capability to integrate innovations.

Hawari also noted the need to improve opportunities for partnerships, support and consultations between Jordan’s health institutions and the WHO, IAEA and IARC.

The delegates are scheduled to visit Jordan’s cancer treatment institutions, primarily Al Bashir Hospital, Jordanian Royal Medical Services (JRMS), King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC), university hospitals and private sector institutions.

The assessment is expected to provide the Ministry of Health and its partners with a situation-based analysis and several recommendations to complete Jordan’s national strategy for cancer control and support its implementation. It will also focus on childhood cancer following Jordan’s selection in major global initiatives, such as the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.