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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Oman to host World Cancer Congress in 2020

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Muscat, Jan 10 - Oman will host the Union International for Cancer Control’s (UICC) 2020 World Cancer Congress and the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit (WCLS) in October 2020. It is the first time that the World Cancer Congress is coming to the Middle East. The Oman Cancer Association (OCA) and the Oman National Cancer Centre at the Royal Hospital won the bid with joint efforts by Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), Oman Convention Board at the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development.


HRH Princess Dina Mired AlHussain, President-Elect of UICC for 2018 to 2020 and the first Arab to hold the post, said: “It gives me great honour to have the congress under my presidency hosted in Oman, an Arab country.


It is a responsibility and privilege for all of us to make sure the Global UICC conference will reflect the innovation, hospitality and organisational skills of the Arab people and showcase Oman as a medical hub and tourist attraction.”


The UICC delegation visited Oman to review the designated venue for the congress, and meet and discuss with all stakeholders for the UICC 2020 Congress.


This included senior government officials, and private and corporate partners involved in cancer prevention and control in Oman. The Union International for Cancer Control is the top global organisation with over 1,000 member institutions from 164 countries.


It conducts the UICC Congress every two years that brings more than 3,500 attendees to network and learn from each other all aspects of cancer prevention, awareness initiatives and cancer management. It also holds annually the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit that brings together the world leaders to develop initiatives and practices for cancer control at the global level that will reduce the cancer burden and its negative impact in walks of life.


“We, as a region, have much more work to do in the areas of prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer.


Many countries in the region unfortunately have had their health system decimated, so we, the countries that have successfully managed to provide comprehensive cancer care, have a responsibility to pass on that knowledge to others in the region and with the partnership of UICC that comes with the wealth of membership who are ready to support,” Al Hussain told the Observer.


The authorities and the stakeholders who met the delegation approved of the UICC World Congress and the WCLS and promised full support for the global congress to be held in Muscat Oman.


“It is a great honour for Oman and the whole region because our vision as Oman Cancer Association is to reduce the burden of cancer nationally, regionally and globally.”


“There is a list of criteria each hosting country must meet and Oman met the requirements. I was impressed with infrastructure and the thinking behind it — Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.


We are very excited about showcasing Oman not from just the infrastructure and business/convention perspective but about what Oman is doing with the public health care, cancer and other non-communicable diseases. It needs to be showcased to the world,” said Jessica Mathieu, Director of Events, UICC at a press conference held at Oman Cancer Association.


Lakshmi Kothaneth


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