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Cancer reached serious prevalence rate in Kuwait -- Al-Sayer |
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News -
Health
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Monday, 09 November 2009 23:06 |
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Minister of Health Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer said Monday the statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that cancer reached serious prevalence rate in the country.
"The disease is a major cause of death in the State of Kuwait," Al-Sayer said citing surveys of the WHO Statistical Information System (WHOSIS).
The minister made the remarks while inaugurating Kuwait's First National Conference on Cancer Control.
He highlighted the importance of disseminating knowledge about ways for prevention and early detection of the fatal disease, noting that 30 percent of cancer deaths can be prevented.
"The two-day conference provides a timely opportunity for local and foreign specialists to examine local and global statistics and develop recommendations for policy-makers to control the disease," Al-Sayer pointed out.
The minister praised the efforts being made by the Kuwaiti commission for cancer control. Meanwhile, Medhat Oteifa, chairman of the Surgery Division of Hussain Mikki AL Juma'a Center for Specialized Surgery, said cancer constitutes a global burden.
"Cancer accounts for 7.4 million deaths including 1.2 million women worldwide," he said, citing the WHOSIS figures.
"The number of female deaths is likely to top 2 million in 2020, Oteifa predicted.
Kuwaiti Ministry of Health reports 1,300 new cancer cases annually 50 percent of the patients recover while the remaining percentage succumb to the disease.
Kuna
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