A Glance at MAHAK’s 28-Year Experience in Raising Awareness and Early Detection of Childhood Cancer

28 years ago before the establishment of MAHAK, there was no treatment center focused on childhood cancer and therefore no reliable statistics were available regarding the rate of childhood cancer in Iran.

In 1991, MAHAK started its activities by planning to eradicate taboos and unscientific convictions towards cancer in the society. Later on, this charity organization focused on providing comprehensive and integrated medical and supportive (non-medical) services all over Iran through hospitals with hematology-oncology wards by undertaking planned news releases; raising awareness; establishing relations with cancer specialists; trying to reduce the gap between diagnosis and getting introduced to MAHAK which could guarantee immediate start of treatment; activating the capacities of civil society; holding national and international scientific congresses on childhood cancer; exchanging experiences with national and international patient organizations; leading cancer control activities in Iran and the region; increasing and updating the knowledge and expertise of MAHAK’s cancer specialists; and most importantly, building and running the only specialized pediatric cancer treatment hospital and research center in Iran.

All the above-mentioned actions have led to early detection and primary-stage diagnosis of pediatric cancer in Iran and today, on the threshold of its 29th anniversary, MAHAK is celebrating the survival of over 6500 children and strives to provide ever-improving comprehensive services to its over 19000 under-treatment children.

Arasb Ahmadian

CEO of MAHAK