{"id":7600,"date":"2025-09-21T11:12:44","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T10:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mahak-charity.org\/en\/?p=7600"},"modified":"2025-09-22T13:37:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T12:37:35","slug":"press-conference-to-launch-childhood-cancer-awareness-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mahak-charity.org\/en\/press-conference-to-launch-childhood-cancer-awareness-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"MAHAK Hosts Press Conference to Launch Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tehran, September 20, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n

MAHAK Charity Institute<\/em>\u2013 held a press conference on September 20, 2025, to mark the Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the global \u201cGo Gold\u201d campaign. The event brought together MAHAK\u2019s senior leadership, medical experts, partner organizations, and members of the national and international press to highlight the importance of childhood cancer awareness month , early detection and effective treatment,\u00a0 post-treatment, psychosocial and supportive services to children suffering from cancer, and their families. The gold ribbon shines as a symbol of care, unity, and support in this month. During the press conference, MAHAK explained about its comprehensive undergoing initiatives at childhood cancer from different features, and invited the society to join # GO Gold campion locally and internationally.<\/p>\n

A vision for specialized treatment of all pediatric cancers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking at the conference, Arasb Ahmadian, CEO of MAHAK, outlined the organization\u2019s future plans:<\/p>\n

\u201cBetween 2025 and 2027, in addition to brain tumors, we will pursue specialized programs in transplantation and sarcoma. Our vision is for MAHAK Hospital to have an active, specialized team for every type of childhood cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahmadian emphasized that September provides an important platform to remind society of the profound impact of cancer on children and their families. As a member of Childhood Cancer International (CCI) and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), MAHAK has been actively contributing to global awareness efforts for more than a decade.<\/p>\n

He noted that over the past 34 years, MAHAK has built a comprehensive 5\u20137 year program to support children with cancer across Iran. Today, the organization provides financial and medical support to patients in 42 public and university hospitals nationwide, in addition to those treated at MAHAK Hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll costs related to medication and treatment are fully covered by MAHAK, free of charge,\u201d Ahmadian said.<\/p>\n

Rising costs of cancer care and need for systemic support<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ahmadian also addressed the rising costs of cancer treatment, noting that the average annual cost of drugs and treatment for one child in 2024 was 130 million IRR.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost cancer drugs are imported and very expensive, heavily affected by exchange rate fluctuations. Many are not covered by insurance, and we expect faster action from the Ministry of Health and the High Council of Insurance to include these medicines in insurance lists. Public donations alone cannot sustain such costs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strategic transformation in treatment and digital innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ahmadian further announced that MAHAK has been implementing two major strategies since 2022: Transformation in Treatment and Digital Transformation. The first phase of this strategy led to the integration of international protocols and the establishment of a multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) model for pediatric brain tumors, which has now become part of MAHAK\u2019s routine operations.<\/p>\n

He also highlighted ongoing projects, including the creation of Iran\u2019s Childhood Cancer Data Bank, the launch of the MAHAK mobile app for donor engagement, and pioneering collaborations in artificial intelligence for automatic anomaly detection in children\u2019s CT scans.<\/p>\n

\u201cAI can help ensure timely, accurate diagnosis for children across the country. If successful, this model could expand to other cancers,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

Expert perspectives on survival rates and treatment challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Mandana Tasbihi, Pediatric Hemato-Oncologist, highlighted global disparities in childhood cancer survival rates:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile survival in developed countries can reach up to 90 percent, in Iran it stands at about 40 percent. Early diagnosis and timely referral remain crucial to improving these outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

She emphasized that brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer mortality among children after leukemia. MAHAK\u2019s neuro-oncology taskforce, combining national and international expertise, aims to reduce both mortality and post-treatment complications.<\/p>\n

Dr. Mithra Ghalibafian, Head of Radiation Oncology Department, pointed to global inequalities in access to radiotherapy:<\/p>\n

\u201cOver 60 percent of cancer patients need radiotherapy at some stage, yet only 40 to 45 percent of radiotherapy equipment is available in developing countries. Increasing access to both equipment and trained professionals is critical.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stressed that MAHAK\u2019s goal is to provide at least two-thirds of patients with the latest treatment methods, guided by early detection and minimally invasive therapies.<\/p>\n

Partnerships for awareness and digital infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n

The press conference also highlighted MAHAK\u2019s partnerships with the private sector. Reza Movahedi, General Manager of Brand Management at MTN Irancell, announced that the telecom operator has sent over 120 million awareness-raising text messages on childhood cancer to its 40 million subscribers over the past year.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur collaboration with MAHAK extends to digital infrastructure development, including telemedicine platforms, which can expand access to care nationwide,\u201d Movahedi said.<\/p>\n

Continuing the fight with hope and solidarity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Concluding the event, Ahmadian underscored the importance of national solidarity:<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren do not understand wars or economic crises. They only need timely treatment and lifelong support. With the help of the people, our partner organizations across the provinces, and the media, we will continue to make this possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participants<\/strong><\/p>\n

The press conference featured:<\/p>\n