KUWAIT CITY, Oct 6: The National Cancer Awareness Campaign (CAN) launched on Monday a comprehensive training program to qualify female physical education teachers from the Ministry of Education as breast cancer awareness trainers, with the participation of 200 educators from across Kuwait’s educational districts.

The initiative aims to enhance health awareness among 12th-grade female students, focusing on the importance of self-examination and early detection of breast cancer, a key pillar in the country’s preventative health efforts.

In a press statement, CAN Chairman Dr. Khaled Al-Saleh stated that the program marks the second phase of a long-running initiative that has already trained over 182,000 female students between 2010 and 2024. He noted that the training is being rolled out according to a detailed timetable that spans all educational districts.

The program began with teachers from Jahra and Hawalli districts and continued with participation from the Capital, Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Ahmadi, and Farwaniya districts. It is scheduled to conclude on October 9 with training sessions for teachers in the private education sector.

Dr. Al-Saleh emphasized that this initiative reflects CAN’s ongoing commitment to strengthening community partnerships, spreading health awareness, and fostering a culture of prevention and early detection—core strategies to lower breast cancer rates in Kuwait.

Dr. Ebtehal Fadel, Head of the Regional Alliance for Non-Communicable Diseases, described the initiative as a pioneering effort in the region. She highlighted that the program combines theoretical and practical training through intensive lectures and workshops.

According to Dr. Fadel, the curriculum includes an introduction to breast cancer, the significance of self-examination and early detection, and lectures on health development and the role of youth. Participants also engage in sessions on positive communication skills, and a motivational talk titled “A Recovering Journey” by a breast cancer survivor, underlining the life-saving impact of early diagnosis.

The program also features a hands-on training component using educational models. An exam for all trainees is scheduled for next Sunday, which will certify successful participants as official trainers under the CAN campaign. These certified trainers will then be responsible for delivering breast cancer awareness sessions to 12th-grade students in their respective schools.

The initiative stands as a testament to Kuwait’s proactive approach to public health education, empowering educators to serve as ambassadors of awareness and early detection in the fight against breast cancer.