Doha Ghouth Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – The month of October has been coined for creating breast cancer awareness among women worldwide. And it's men's turn in November. Libra Productions and Infrared studios teamed up and created Saudi Arabia's own prostate cancer awareness campaign called “Moshaneb,” which is inspired by the worldwide campaign “Movember.” Libra Production's recent video in support of breast cancer, launched last month, was the inspiration behind initiating an awareness campaign for men. Prostate cancer is the most common cause of death in men aged above 75. It is a problem that men usually come to know about when the cancer advanced to its final stage. Thamer Farhan, a project and talent manager, said that the reason behind raising awareness about prostate cancer is that many people don't know its effects and what it can lead to in time. “We lack awareness and a lot of men avoid checkups due to embarrassment.” Awareness campaigns are known to break the ice for individuals who are curious or might be suffering from a disease they are unaware of. With very little campaigns dedicated to men, Farhan thought it had to start sometime. He said:”Men don't like to be thought of as weak or that they any kind of help, but then that doesn't help them either.” The three-day campaign saw a host of local celebrities and individuals flooding the Libra Productions. They clicked funny pictures, added a message in Arabic and English, and then sent it to men across the country. A social message delivered by a celebrity has a strong impact on people, hence the active involvement of stars like Omar Hussien, Turki Shiekh, Khairia Abu Laban, Terad Sindi and bands like AlFarabi played a key role in the campaign. Word of mouth and social media also helped bring participants under one roof to know more about the little-known deadly cancer. Participation of a large number of female gave the campaign a fun twist, and attendees were clearly enthralled by it. Esraa Al Sharief, a participant in the campaign, said she knew little about prostate cancer but after participating she started to research more. “It is important to support men and create awareness.” The disease's genetic factor makes those with affected family members more active in raising awareness and spreading the knowledge about prevention and early detection. “My father died of prostate cancer so I have made this my mission to let others know how to deal with the disease and how to prevent it” said Lama Ahmed.
