AMMAN – In conjunction with World Cancer Day, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum (TAG-KF), a member of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global), has organized a digital panel session entitled ‘Jordan Defies Cancer’, through live streaming on the Forum’s Facebook page. The sessions also broadcast live on Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Business and Culture Radio & TV.

The session hosted Head of Advocacy & Fundraising Unit at King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF), Ms. Rana Ghafari, Director General of the Hareer (Silk) Initiative for non-profit community development, Mr. Nihad Dabbas, and President of ‘Will of Spirit’ Foundation, Ms. Ibtisam Al Jadou’, in addition to trainer and athlete and activist Ms. Nisreen Matalqa.

Ms. Ghafari pointed out the importance of the national awareness campaign launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Ghida Talal, chairperson of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center, under the slogan “Jordan Defies Cancer” to commemorate the World Cancer Day that falls annually on February 4 to encourage people to maintain healthy lifestyle for cancer prevention.

Ms. Ghafari further stressed that the KHCF strongly believes that fighting cancer is a national and social responsibility, praising the role played by TAG-KF and its efforts in supporting the Foundation and the national campaign through organizing and holding events and activities with the aim of raising awareness on the importance of fighting this terrible disease.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dabbas noted that the idea of Hareer Initiative was developed as a result of the psychological effect of chemotherapy that leads to hair loss of cancer patients. Hareer collects strands of hair from volunteers, which are then woven into natural-looking wigs and offered for cancer patients, particularly women and children, who have lost their hair during chemotherapy. This would help improve psychological therapy of cancer patients, according to Dabbas. 

Mr. Dabbas also stressed that the “Hareer” Initiative  that targets children with cancer come in line with the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II urging the need for social solidarity and strengthening the role of various bodies in initiating community initiatives.

Ms. Al Jadou’, a cancer survivor, talked about her suffering with the long treatment experience in light of lack of adequate awareness about this kind of treatment, indicating that she launched the ‘Will of Spirit Initiative to become a supporting hand that provides psychological, emotional and moral support to cancer patients by enhancing self-development skills, adding that the initiative targets patients of all ages. 

Athlete and activist, Ms. Matalqa, highlighted the importance of sport and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a belief that encouraged her to launch the ‘Lammet Amal’ project that aims at promoting healthy habits and practice through jogging, while all its proceeds go to the patients of KHCF.

She further explained that the journey of fighting cancer is a long battle that needs concerted efforts by all concerned stakeholders for the interest of patients, and their family members who face enormous challenges in supporting their patients.

For his part, Mr. Fadi Daoud, executive director of TAG-KF and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global) Education and Youth Consultant, who moderated the session, pointed out that the digital virtual session was organized in conjunction with the World Cancer Day. The session came in line with the Forum’s national role in supporting the efforts of the KHCF and as part of the national awareness campaign “Jordan Defies Cancer” launched in February to engage the community in raising awareness on the risks of cancer and the ways of fighting it.