New appointments and forward-looking projects for FoCP outlined at its General Assembly

Second General Assembly approves report 2014-2015 and action plan for 2015-2016

Sharjah, July 12, 2015: Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) has selected two new candidates to occupy vacant positions on its board and reviewed the success of their campaigns over the past year at their second General Assembly held recently. The meeting took place at the Headquarters of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development and Mohammed Al Musharrakh, Head of Investment Promotion at the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), were uncontested in their nomination to join FoCP. Also attending the meeting was HE Ameera Binkaram, Chairperson and a founding member of FoCP, HE Sawsan Jaffar, Treasurer and Board Member and Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, General Manager of FoCP.

HE Ameera BinKaram thanked the Minister of Social Affairs, HE Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi for her support and cooperation. BinKaram said, “FoCP, under their strategic partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs, has always received significant cooperation which has helped us to spread the culture of philanthropy among the community. The Ministry of Social Affairs has provided FoCP all possible means to help the charity to perform its work and FoCP has always worked in accordance with the general framework determined by the Ministry of Social Affairs for civil society organizations.”

BinKaram pointed out that FoCP has continued to develop its structures, and expand the scope of its work to ensure it reaches the largest possible number of patients, and improve services provided to them.  BinKaram added, “We are indebted to His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his support as well as the generous patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.  The major achievements made by FoCP would not have been possible without this support.”

Over the course of the meeting the annual report for 2014-2015 and the action plan for 2015-2016 were approved and Dr Sawsan Al Madhi outlined a range of proposals submitted by board members. Sawsan Jaffar discussed the budget report for 2014 and the suggested budget for 2015 was discussed with the board and the Ministry of Social Affairs representatives. Reviewing projects over the past year, Jaffar highlighted the landmark achievements made by the Pink Caravan during its fifth ride last March.

FoCP is a UAE-based registered charity, which was established in 1999 in line with the directives and patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC, and Founder and Royal Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients Charity that was recognized by the Ministry of Health in 2013.

FoCP's primary focus has been to promote awareness around the 6 early detectable cancers being Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, and Skin Cancer under the Umbrella of 'KASHF'. FOCP has initiated numerous leading cancer focused awareness conferences and programmes targeting the UAE and Arab community that have become recognized locally and internationally.