CHANCE Symposium Highlights Urgent Need for Women and Girls' Bleeding Disorder Care and Launches an Innovative AI-Powered, Patient-Focused Initiative
The symposium was directed by LAU Professor, Dr Roula Farah, President of CHANCE (CHildren AgaiNst CancEr) Association and featured insightful presentations by internationally renowned speakers from the University of Geneva, Professors Alessandro Casini, Philippe de Moerloose, and Dr. Awa Babington-Ashaye. Their contributions highlighted the urgent need for better awareness and multidisciplinary collaboration in diagnosing and managing bleeding disorders in female patients, a group often underdiagnosed and undertreated.
Endorsed by 4 scientific societies and attended by over 250 experts in pediatric and adolescent medicine, laboratory medicine, hematology, gynecology and perinatology, the educational symposium was followed by a panel discussion featuring Dr David Atallah, President of the Lebanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr Maroun Matar, Board member of the Lebanese Society of Perinatology ; Dr Mona Alameh, President of the Lebanese Pediatric Society; Dr Myrna Germanos, President of the Syndicate of Clinical Pathologists; Mrs Lina Abou Mrad, Director of the National E-health Programme at the Ministry of Public Health; and Dr Hanane Ziade, Obstetrician-Gynecologist specialized in Adolescent Gynecology at the Lebanese American University of Beirut-Rizk Hospital.
A Key highlight of the evening was the launch of an AI-powered, patient-focused initiative, aimed to bridge critical gaps in disease education by providing curated, culturally adapted, and easily accessible information in Arabic, French, and English. By enhancing disease management and promoting better access to knowledge, the chatbot aspires to improve the overall quality of life for individuals with coagulation disorders in Lebanon. This forward-thinking project holds great promise for driving impactful partnerships with Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health and advancing care at the national level.
A Lifeline for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders. Since its founding in 2002, CHANCE has been a beacon of hope for over 850 children and their families, covering more than 15,000 hospital admissions and securing over 5,000 essential medications. The association remains dedicated to ensuring every child, regardless of financial background, receives access to life-saving treatment. CHANCE has also led four national awareness campaigns on early diagnosis and detection of childhood cancer and blood diseases, as well as provided direct psycho-social support through activities such as art therapy and virtual reality. Following Lebanon's financial crisis and the 2020 Beirut explosion, CHANCE launched the Donate Medicine initiative, reducing waste by allowing people to donate their unused medications to those in need.
As an Associate Member of Childhood Cancer International (CCI) since 2006, CHANCE represents Lebanon in a global network of 189 organizations across 98 countries. Since 2014, Dr. Roula Farah, CHANCE founder and president has served on the Asia Regional Committee of CCI, advocating for the right to equal access to treatment for all children with cancer worldwide.
CHANCE was also recognized in 2015 as a top finalist for the best NGO award in health by Quality Systems International, Paris, and the United Nations Development Program. It is an active member of the United Nations Global Compact Network.
Since 2019, Dr. Farah has been a member of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Childhood Cancer Initiative Working Group. In 2020, she was nominated as a CCI representative for the WHO Global Initiative on Childhood Cancer for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) region. In 2024, she was appointed as the CCI representative and co-focal point for the EMRO region towards the WHO for matters related to childhood cancer.
A Collective Responsibility for a Brighter Future Lebanon's healthcare system is in crisis, but childhood cancer and serious blood disorders cannot wait. With survival rates reaching 80% globally where proper treatment is available, it is imperative to act now.
CHANCE calls upon policymakers, global partners, and the public to take action:
● Raise awareness and promote early diagnosis.
● Advocate for stronger healthcare policies supporting pediatric hematology and oncology.
● Support CHANCE's initiatives to fund essential treatments and provide hope to children fighting cancer and blood disorders.
Join Us. Take Action. Be Their CHANCE. The fight against childhood cancer and blood diseases requires a united effort. No action is too small when a child's life is at stake.
Together, we can turn hope into reality.
Together, we can inspire action.
Together, we can change lives.
For more information about Chance Association and its initiatives, please visit
https://chanceassociation.org/ or contact 70-812259
For volunteering, information or donations, visit CHANCE website: www.chanceassociation.org
Follow CHANCE association on IG and FB: @chanceassociation
Email: [email protected]
Bank details:
Bank Name: CREDIT LIBANAIS SAL, Achrafieh Branch, Beirut, Lebanon
Account Holder: CHANCE Association (Children Against Cancer)
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