LYON — Saudi Arabia has officially joined the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialized agency of the World Health Organization, marking a significant step in the Kingdom's health and cancer research initiatives. The announcement was made during the 66th session of the IARC's Governing Council in Lyon, France. Dr. Nahar Al-Azemi, Secretary-General of the Saudi Health Council, emphasized that Saudi Arabia's membership in the IARC underscores the nation's commitment to disease prevention and control, particularly in combating cancer and its associated challenges through scientific research. The Kingdom's efforts to address cancer include a comprehensive approach, focusing on prevention, treatment, and social aspects of the disease. This move to join the IARC is part of Saudi Arabia's broader health strategy to enhance its capabilities in fighting cancer on both a national and a global scale. The celebration was attended by Fahad Al-Ruwaily, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to France and the designated permanent representative of the Kingdom to UNESCO, along with a delegation led by Al-Azemi. Notable attendees also included Mushabbab Ali Al-Asiri, General Director of the National Cancer Center; Ali Al-Zahrani, deputy director at the research center of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center; and Samar Al-Homoud, consultant colorectal surgeon at the hospital and chair of the IARC Ethics Committee.
