Sharjah24: The UAE-based civil society organisation, Friends Of Cancer Patients (FOCP), has scooped the prestigious Global Good Governance (3G) Awards 2021 for the third time since 2017, winning in two categories,‘3G Leadership Award for Social Sector & Philanthropy’ and ‘3G Best Community Service Award’.

FOCP has received these global honours in recognition of its hugely impactful efforts to raise strong public awareness and advocacy on the risks and types of cancer as well as coalescing support from individuals and organisations in both public and private sectors to raise funds to help cancer patients who are unable to afford high treatment costs.

Accepting the awards on behalf of FOCP, HE Sawsan Jafar, Chairperson of FOCP Board of Directors, said: “It is truly an honour to be recognised by the Global Good Governance Awards 2021 edition in two categories. We thank you for this valued recognition, which FOCP is delighted to  receive for the third time since 2017.”

“Under the wise leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Patron of FOCP, and International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), we have been able to take timely action to both save and improve the lives of those afflicted with cancer.  Working with our international partners, we have been able to reduce the burden on patients, healthcare systems and civil society organisations, both in the region as well as through our global reach. Together, we will continue on this noble path and achieve greater results, God willing,” she added.

Since winning this award previously in 2017 and 2018, FOCP has continued dedicatedly in its efforts to alleviate the sufferings of cancer patients and their families by offering financial, psychological and moral support by providing free treatment ,care and follow up,  has led several community initiatives and organised key forums to bring the international stakeholders together to strengthen partnerships and explore new ones in the field of cancer prevention and control.

Through the course of 2020, FOCP launched several humanitarian initiatives that aim to promote community awareness about the disease. Foremost of these efforts was the annual pan-UAE Pink Caravan Ride breast cancer awareness campaign that offered free medical screenings to over 11,007 citizens and residents in a bid to sensitise them about the importance of early detection. 

In partnership with NCD Alliance, FOCP convened the 3rd Global NCD Alliance Forum in February 2020, which saw the participation of 400 delegates from 80 countries. 53 national and regional alliances were represented at the Forum. 

In May last year, FOCP successfully organised the ‘Give & Gain 2020’ Ramadan challenge with participants reaching the target of 5 million steps and raising AED50,000. Later, FOCP’s Relay for Life Summer Challenge saw both individuals and companies join in, encouraging participants to target 8,000 steps every day to contribute to achieving the overall goal of 10 million steps. Finally, in October, FOCP organised the Pink Steps Challenge to encourage individuals and corporate teams to improve their health by targeting 20 million steps and contribute to the treatment of cancer patients who cannot afford it.

The Global Good Governance Awards (3G Awards) have been instituted by Cambridge IF Analytica as part of its social responsibility initiatives and celebrates individuals, governments, public and private institutions and NGOs that demonstrate making governance and sustainability a strategic priority of their organisations.