Under the slogan “Reassure Yourself,” the Ministry of Health (MOH), represented by the National Centre for Women and Child Health, launched on Sunday the National Awareness Campaign for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer at Wyndham Garden Hotel in Al Khuwair. The campaign coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, “Pink October,” and will run for one year across the various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
The launch ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr. Sami bin Sulaiman Al Farsi, Director General of the National Centre for Women and Child Health at the Ministry of Health, in the presence of a number of directors general and officials from the Centre, as well as directors of departments and heads of women’s and child health departments and sections at the health directorates.
Dr. Faiza Abdul Hussein Al Fadhel, Director of the Women’s Health Department at the National Centre for Women and Child Health at the Ministry of Health, highlighted in her presentation the development of the breast cancer early detection program in the Sultanate of Oman.
The ceremony program included a review of the various stages in the development of the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program in the Sultanate of Oman, as well as a personal dialogue sharing a recovery journey and messages of hope, alongside the official launch of the campaign.
Furthermore, the program addressed the campaign’s objectives, key components, target groups, and implementation mechanisms throughout the year. It further showcased the awareness materials developed for the campaign and outlined the mechanisms for documenting and evaluating the activities to be carried out across the governorates.
Over the course of one year, a range of awareness-raising and educational programs, initiatives, and activities will be implemented in partnership with various sectors, contributing to translating awareness into sustainable healthy behaviors and promoting a culture of taking proactive steps towards early detection.
The campaign forms part of national efforts aimed at promoting women’s health, fostering a culture of prevention and early detection, raising community awareness of breast health, and encouraging women to access early detection services in accordance with the age groups and approved criteria under the National Program. It also aligns with national efforts to further develop breast cancer early detection services, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the Eleventh Five-Year Health Plan (2026–2030).
The campaign aims to build sustainable health awareness, address misconceptions about breast cancer, enhance women’s knowledge of signs and changes that warrant medical evaluation, and encourage women to take proactive steps towards early detection. It also seeks to strengthen the role of families and communities in supporting women’s health.
Building on this commitment, women’s health has received the gracious attention of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, may Allah protect and preserve him. In recognition of this commitment, the Council of Ministers, in January 2025, directed the launch of a national early screening program for the most common cancer among women, through the establishment of seven early detection units covering the various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
This strategic step reflects the Sultanate’s national commitment to strengthening early detection services, expanding access to them, and delivering these services in a more comprehensive and sustainable manner.
It is worth noting that breast cancer remains one of the major health challenges affecting women’s health. However, early detection can make a significant difference in the course of the disease. The earlier changes are detected, the better the chances of successful treatment and improved health outcomes, with greater opportunities for timely access to more effective care.