My Ramadan: the director general of compassion helps others all year

Nora Al Suwaidi is the director general of Rahma, the Cancer Patient Care Society, which was founded two years ago by the Ministry of Community Development to help cancer patients receive the best possible care.

Nora Al Suwaidi’s work at Rahma is informed by her personal experiences with cancer. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

ABU DHABI // For a month, Ramadan brings out goodwill in the faithful, but for Nora Al Suwaidi, her life’s work is dedicated to helping others. She is literally the director general of compassion or Rahma, its Arabic equivalent.

Rahma, the Cancer Patient Care Society, was founded two years ago by the Ministry of Community Development to help cancer patients receive the best possible care.

While Ms Al Suwaidi, 33, was appointed to the position of general director because of her academic and professional credentials – she graduated from Tufts University and King’s College London with degrees in public and community health – her own life had been shaken by cancer.

Her father, the author and strategic expert Jamal Al Suwaidi, was diagnosed with lymphoma. One doctor had told him he had two weeks to live but Mr Al Suwaidi sought a second opinion and was treated abroad. The cancer has been in remission now for several years.

Following his experience, Mr Al Suwaidi felt compelled to establish Rahma to help cancer patients in the UAE who couldn’t afford to travel abroad. He now serves as the organisation’s chairman.

“For me, it’s a personal mission,” said Ms Al Suwaidi. “He created Rahma because of what he went through seeing a need for patient support post diagnosis. I have that sort of passion inside of me and an ethical obligation to my community to raise awareness. I don’t say that Rahma is just for UAE nationals, there are no borders in Rahma, we try and help everyone. No cancer patient should feel hopeless, they should have access to the best treatment and at the fastest time.”

Much of Rahma’s work in its infancy has focused on advocacy to raise awareness about cancer treatment options and prevention. The assistance provided by Rahma could be as small as paying the transport for a labourer diagnosed with cancer to travel to a local hospital to helping fund the hefty price for a bone-marrow transplant.

“As a non-profit, we have limitations,” said Ms Al Suwaidi. “Basically what we do is we try and work with private and government sectors and we sign MoUs with different organisations to help patients access treatment, depending on their criteria, either access it in an expedited way so they don’t have to wait in line or actually get their treatment paid for,” said Ms Al Suwaidi. “It’s the most difficult job I’ve ever done, but it’s the most rewarding job I’ve ever done.”

Ms Al Suwaidi’s long-term vision for Rahma involves building a foundation that offers patients a library, group support and access to alternative treatments. Her dream is to one day see a charity hospital operating from the emirate.

But funding remains a challenge – even during the holy month.

“In Ramadan, people reflect and they think how to give back. This should be something that’s ongoing,” said Ms Al Suwaidi. “Ramadan strengthens the idea of charity and it’s a time of reflection and improvement and if it’s practised with dedication, tolerance and patience, the rewards are priceless.”

According to Health Authority Abu Dhabi, 1,589 new cancer cases were reported in 2013. There were 390 deaths; 34 per cent were Emiratis.