The “Smile” initiative announced the celebration of over 45 children who have successfully recovered from cancer, during the launch of the latest edition of its awareness campaign, “Kids R Gold 11”, held at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) – Medical University of Bahrain campus.

Led by the Bahrain Future Society for Youth, the "Smile" initiative provides psychosocial support to children with cancer and their families in  Bahrain. The campaign aims to spread awareness about childhood cancer across various segments in the Kingdom, under the slogan “Children’s cancer is curable.”

His Excellency Lieutenant General Doctor Sheikh Mohamed Bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, emphasised the significance of this pioneering humanitarian campaign in raising awareness about childhood cancer, highlighting that the disease can be cured if detected and treated in its early stages.

His Excellency also commended the remarkable efforts of the “Smile” initiative in supporting children with cancer and their families and praised the dedication and hard work demonstrated by the initiative during the campaign and throughout the year and expressed the Supreme Council of Health's ongoing commitment to this noble initiative, which plays a significant role in improving the quality of life for children with cancer and providing them with the necessary care on their journey towards recovery.

Mr Soubah Al-Zayani, Chairman of the Bahrain Future Society for Youth, expressed his pride in the accomplishments of the “Kids R Gold” campaign over the years and commented, “This year, we have taken special care to prepare an exceptional edition of the campaign, which was launched by celebrating the graduation of brave children who have triumphed over cancer. Through our ‘Smile’ initiative, we are committed to continuously supporting these children in their post-treatment phase by providing psychological, social, and educational support, ensuring they continue to succeed and fulfill their ambitions in the future.”

Mr Al-Zayani added, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency Lieutenant General Doctor Sheikh Mohamed Bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, for his generous patronage and support in launching Kids R Gold 11′ campaign. We are also grateful for RCSI Medical University of Bahrain for hosting the launch ceremony of this year’s edition.”

Professor Sameer Otoom, President of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, underscored the University’s dedication to collaborating on initiatives aimed at improving the health of the Bahraini community, stating: “This campaign demonstrates our University’s commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts that raise awareness about childhood cancer and addressing critical social issues and promoting health awareness.”

Professor Sameer Otoom called for sustained collaboration to support and care for sick children, emphasising the need for collective efforts to improve their treatment and recovery outcomes, and affirmed that such teamwork is essential for achieving the best possible results in their health journey.