(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Fazeena Saleem I The Peninsula
The Primary Health care Corporation (PHCC) opened an expansion of cancer screening suite in Leabaib Health Center, yesterday.
It will accommodate more visitors as the second phase of the Screen for Life, national screening program for breast and bowel cancer has started to include expatriates as well.
Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, Managing Director of PHCC officially inaugurated the expanded screening suite in the presence of Dr Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, Director, Public Health, Ministry of Public Health; Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, Manager of Screening Programs at PHCC and several other officials.
The suite which will provide screening for breast and bowel cancer can accommodate 180 visitors per day. It is staffed with more nurses, screening rooms and follow up rooms with extended working hours and separate male and female entrances.
'Since it was launched in 2016 the Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening has screened more than 50,000 people and we are overwhelmed with response received so far.
The expansion strategy of our present screening centres would help to cater more people. We will be expanding other screening centres as well. We hope to reach more people this year in our screening program in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, Managing Director of PHCC.
'In 2018 we have held many awareness activities. A total of 7,623 women were screened for breast cancer and 9,351 for bowel cancer, she added.
With the expanded space, each appointment for breast cancer screening will take only 20 minutes. A second mammogram room added to the facility will double the capacity of the screening suite to reach 90 visitors per day and 450 visitors per week.
The bowel screening section has two assessment clinics for both men and women with specific opening hours. It can cater 96 visitors per day and 480 per week.
Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, Manager of Screening Programs at PHCC, said, 'PHCC through Screen for Life Program has been aiming to offer the best screening services for Qatar.
We are happy to expand our current capacity of screening at Leabaib Health center and the next expansion will be at Rawdat Al Khail Health Center. We are confident that in 2019 we can reach to more people.
Dr Mariam Al Mass, Head of Screening Programs ( Design and Implementation) at PHCC said, 'We have moved to the second phase of the cancer screening program and started to include expatriates as well.
The expansions will help to enhance our services as we aim at reaching the entire population which falls under the eligible category for breast and bowel screening.
The screening suite is staffed with receptionists, nurses, mammogram technicians and radiologists. Together they assure the screening flow is completed smoothly and participants inquiries -if any- are answered fully. The staff speaks different languages including Arabic, English, Indian languages and Tagalog.
Breast cancer screening is provided for women between 45 69 age bowel cancer screening for men and women of between 50 74 years. Eligible participants are requested to call the dedicated number 800 1112 to book appointments and they are required to arrive 30 minutes ahead of their appointment.
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