3,800 Cases Annually! Ministry of Health Provides Free Annual Mammograms for Women Over 40

Minister of Public Health Rakan Nassereddine launched the 2026 National Breast Cancer Awareness and Early Detection Campaign under the slogan: "She reminds you of everything... remind her with a mammogram." The campaign emphasized that mammography is now available in all government hospitals throughout the year for all Lebanese women over 40.

The event was attended by the campaign ambassador and Miss Lebanon Maya Abu Al-Hassan, Head of the National Cancer Control Plan Dr. Arfat Tufaili, Head of the National Committee for Breast Cancer Awareness and Early Detection at the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Naji Al-Saghir, Director General of Tebnin Government Hospital Dr. Mohammad Hamada, along with a gathering of doctors, representatives of civil society organizations involved in cancer control, members of the national committee, the Ministry of Public Health team responsible for implementing the national plan, and media personnel.

The ceremony began with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by a welcome speech by the event host, journalist Nawal Leishaa.

Nassereddine: Three thousand eight hundred breast cancer cases annually

In his speech, Minister Nassereddine noted that "the Ministry of Public Health has transitioned this year from the word 'campaign' to the word 'program,' transforming it from a specific period into a year-round program covering all Lebanese women in all government hospitals."

He added: "Today, every government hospital is equipped with a digital mammography device funded by the Ministry of Health, providing free breast imaging for all Lebanese women over the age of forty throughout the year," clarifying that "the Ministry worked on linking government hospitals with primary healthcare centers and the Phoenix program, so that the doctor at the care center follows up with the patient if infection is detected, directing her through the appropriate medical pathway."

Nassereddine stressed that "the foundation of the program is its reliance on early diagnosis, as it contributes to increasing the number of survivors and avoiding entering a difficult, arduous, and costly treatment path."

He explained that "breast cancer accounts for approximately 23 percent of all cancers in Lebanon, with more than three thousand eight hundred cases recorded annually," describing them as "frightening and difficult, with exorbitant treatment costs."

He affirmed that the Ministry "is fighting to improve these indicators through early diagnosis and securing medication at the lowest possible cost, contributing to higher recovery rates."

He said: "This strategy is the result of 'tremendous effort' in cooperation with all stakeholders in the national program, government hospitals, and the Ministry of Public Health team," calling for "complementary roles." He added: "Each of our roles is to remind the women in our family and surroundings, every mother and wife, about the mammogram, just as they remind us of everything," emphasizing "the necessity of taking advantage of the free imaging opportunity provided by the state."

Nassereddine highlighted "the importance of cooperating with the campaign ambassador in enhancing awareness," inviting "media professionals to contribute their role in spreading a culture of awareness."

He indicated that "the Ministry is establishing through this program a new model based on linking government hospitals with primary healthcare centers, utilizing the latest imaging devices, while organizing training courses to ensure the quality of images and medical reports, so that the quality of examinations is not lower than that available in other hospitals."

He noted that "a number of private hospitals have expressed their willingness to participate in the program for a fee of $30."

The Minister of Public Health hoped that "this approach would extend in the future to other types of cancer, particularly lung, colon, and prostate cancer."

He said: "We hope not to lose any woman due to negligence," reaffirming "the Ministry's commitment to serving Lebanese people, securing medication and treatment, and enhancing life opportunities despite all difficult circumstances."

Abu Al-Hassan: Our concern for ourselves is concern for those we love

In turn, Miss Lebanon and Ambassador of the Breast Cancer Awareness and Early Detection Campaign Maya Abu Al-Hassan stated that she has "the honor of being the ambassador for this campaign," affirming "the necessity for every woman to care for herself and her health as she always cares for those around her."

Abu Al-Hassan continued: "Caring for oneself is not selfishness; rather, our concern for ourselves is also concern for the people we love."

She added: "Early detection helps avoid much material and moral suffering, not only for the woman alone but also for her family and those around her," considering this message to be "a message of love, because every woman must love herself and realize the importance of her presence in the lives of those around her."

She stressed "the need to convey this message to every woman in every Lebanese home."

Dr. Naji Al-Saghir: Awareness campaigns have yielded improvements in diagnostic stages and recovery rates

Then, the Head of the National Committee for Breast Cancer Awareness and Early Detection, Dr. Naji Al-Saghir, spoke, confirming that "awareness and early detection campaigns for breast cancer launched in Lebanon more than 25 years ago have resulted in noticeable improvements in disease diagnostic stages and recovery rates."

He clarified that "statistics since the 1990s showed that approximately 50% of breast cancer cases in Lebanon were recorded among women under fifty, while two-thirds of cases were diagnosed at advanced stages."

He said: "The campaigns led by the Ministry of Public Health in cooperation with civil society organizations, doctors, and cancer survivors contributed to changing this equation, as approximately 65% of cases are now diagnosed at early stages, while studies indicate that 80 to 90% of cases are cured when diagnosed and treated according to modern methods."

He pointed out that "most patients do not require complete mastectomy, but partial reconstructive removal may suffice, along with radiation therapy and sentinel lymph node biopsy under the arm, in addition to hormonal and targeted therapies, and possibly chemotherapy, depending on tumor characteristics and histological test results."

Al-Saghir noted that "approximately one-third of cases are still diagnosed at advanced stages," pointing out that "the number of these cases increased after the coronavirus pandemic and the financial and economic crisis, due to women delaying periodic examinations and mammography, making the continuation of awareness and early detection campaigns an essential necessity."

He explained that "the 2026 National Campaign includes providing free mammography in government hospitals, which have been equipped with modern digital devices, throughout the year, in addition to securing mammography at discounted prices in centers contracted with the Ministry of Health during three months, alongside continuing examinations in private centers and hospitals."

He confirmed that "performing mammography for early detection does not require a prescription," urging social security institutions and insurance companies to "commit to covering examination costs and generalizing this coverage to subscribers, because the cost of prevention is much lower than the cost of treatment."

He highlighted "organizing training workshops for radiographers in cooperation with their associations, aiming to improve imaging quality and ensure a uniform level of examinations across different Lebanese regions, in addition to organizing continuing medical education sessions for radiologists in government hospitals, centers, and private hospitals, to ensure the best possible reading of mammography images."

Dr. Tufaili: The National Program implements the 2023-2028 Plan

In his speech, the Head of the National Cancer Control Plan, Arfat Tufaili, affirmed that "the core message of the breast cancer awareness and early detection campaign is simple and clear: do not wait for symptoms to appear to care for your health, and do not allow fear or lack of information to delay seeking medical advice."

He clarified that "early detection can contribute to discovering the disease in its initial stages, where treatment chances are better," stressing that awareness "is not merely a slogan we raise for one month of the year, but part of building a sustainable health culture."

Dr. Tufaili praised the importance of officially establishing the National Cancer Program for the first time, under the patronage of the Minister of Public Health, noting that "its mission is to oversee the implementation and follow-up of items included in the National Cancer Plan 2023–2028," and thanked the Minister of Public Health who supported the establishment of the program, as well as the National Committee supervising the organization of the campaign and all its members, and the National Cancer Program team for all efforts made, specifically thanking Dr. Zeinab Abbas and Ms. Dima Shukr.

Dr. Hamada: Turning challenges into more giving

There was a speech by the Director General of Tebnin Government Hospital, Dr. Mohammad Hamada, reviewing the hospital's participation record in the 2025 National Breast Cancer Early Detection Campaign, indicating "a record number achieved with 1,253 mammograms and 295 breast ultrasounds performed."

Hamada considered that "this preventive achievement reflects the extent of trust in the hospital and the effectiveness of efforts made to reach the largest possible number of women," noting that "community-level awareness campaigns aimed to disseminate information about the campaign, define the importance of early detection, and encourage women to benefit from it."

He said: "Achieving these results amidst the exceptional conditions Lebanon is going through constitutes proof of the hospital's ability, in cooperation with the local community, its employees, and partners, to turn challenges into motivation for further giving and achievement."

Dr. Hamada affirmed "continuing to serve the region's residents and enhancing the hospital's preventive and health role, developing its capabilities, and strengthening its presence and closeness to the community, regardless of circumstances and challenges."