Gaza Tue Dec 3, 2013--- Press House-Palestine launched a campaign on Tuesday to serve cancer patients in several cities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The campaign organized by Press House in cooperation with Hopeful Smile Association for Cancer Patients’ Care was generously funded by the European Union to shed light on a segment of the Palestinian society which is in need for attention from the media outlets.
The media event has been announced amid a growing number of the cancer patients in Gaza, signaling a serious threat and risk for the society where health care is low.
The campaign organizers’ seek to raise awareness and step up their efforts to obtain better health care for the cancer patients by supporting this segment through their words, moving the patients’ pleas to the concerned organizations and authorities, and conveying their humanitarian messages to draw the attention of the pubic toward their plight.
Hekmat Youssef, a board member at Press House, said the campaign is funded by the European Union and launched in cooperation with Hopeful Smile Association for Cancer Patients’ Care.
“The campaign is aimed at reinforcing the role of media to sever all the Palestinian society segments, especially the cancer patients, and exerting efforts in serving the patients.”
In his turn, Mr. John Rater, EU representative in the Palestinian territory, expresses his solidarity with cancer patients, stressing his support for the campaign and the exerted efforts.
Addressing media and activists participating in this campaign, Mr. Rater pointed out: “EU coordinates with all Journalists especially the young ones to reach out to all the society’s segments and to highlight the plight of the cancer patients in particular.”
He also noted that connecting the cancer patients and their families with the media is a key step, focusing on awareness activities and fund raising.
Mr. Rater expresses his sincere appreciation for the efforts made by Press House-Palestine saying:”These graduates and young journalists found a place for them at Press House which supports them and offers jobs.”
“Press House is the first place founded in Gaza for serving journalists,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Bilal Jadalla, Press House board chairman, extended his thanks to EU representative for his continuous interest in serving media, the freedom of expression, and different segments in the Palestinian society, mentioning EU role in funding the cancer patients’ media campaign.
Mr. Jadallah announced the launch of the campaign in cooperation with Hopeful Smile Association for Cancer Patients’ Care in Gaza Strip, the West Bank, occupied Jerusalem and Al-Nasserah simultaneously to bring attention to this segment, and what it suffers and needs.
On behalf of the Palestinian journalists, Reuters’ head in Gaza, Mr. Nidal al-Mughrabai, said “the new journalists constitute the fuel for moving the truth about the suffering of the cancer patients who cannot travel to receive treatment outside Gaza Strip. “
He urged the European Union to offer all forms of support for the cancer patients, help them receive treatment outside Gaza, and provide them with local medical facilities. Directing his speech to EU representative, al-Murghrabai said:”Mr. Rater, Gaza is in a bad need for power and fuel.”
Ms. Aya Abed al-Rahman, representative of Hopeful Smile Association’s media team (from heart to heart), indicated that the number of cancer patients is increasing due to “ignorance” and the weakness of media interest in this segment.
“I cannot hide my concern to tell you about the deteriorating conditions of the cancer patients and the hospitals in Gaza Strip,” said Ms. Abed al-Rahman while delivering a speech to media and guests. “Ignorance is the first enemy of patients and the first reason behind the death cases as the number of cancer patients can be compared with the number of flu patients.”
She demanded the media outlets to continue their contribution in supporting cancer patients and raising awareness toward their plight.
Start the campaign in Ramallah
Start the campaign in Jerusalem
