Sohar Aluminium and the Directorate General of Health Services in Al Dhahirah Governorate celebrated the inauguration of the Breast Imaging Unit at Ibri Hospital, under the auspices of His Excellency Tahir bin Mabkhout Al Junaibi, Governor of Al Dhahirah. This project aims to strengthen early detection and diagnostic services and expand women's access to specialised healthcare in the governorate.

The project forms part of Sohar Aluminium's corporate social responsibility initiatives and reflects the company's approach to supporting development projects with a sustainable impact. This is achieved by contributing to the development of healthcare infrastructure and strengthening the capacity of healthcare institutions to meet community needs. The project also highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in supporting national healthcare priorities and translating community initiatives into projects that help improve the quality of healthcare services.

Sohar Aluminium's contribution included constructing the Breast Imaging Unit building and preparing its facilities, providing the necessary medical equipment, and connecting the mammogram (specialised X-ray machine to examine breast tissue) previously available at the hospital to the new unit. The unit comprises reception and waiting areas, X-ray images reading offices, and dedicated rooms for ultrasound examinations and biopsies, in addition to other facilities. These facilities enable the integration of screening, diagnostic assessment and follow-up procedures in an environment that respects female patients' privacy and addresses their needs.

The unit aims to enhance opportunities for the early detection of breast diseases, facilitate women's access to screening and diagnostic services, and support the completion of medical assessments and the implementation of appropriate procedures in accordance with the medical recommendations. It also represents a valuable addition to the diagnostic capabilities of Ibri Hospital by providing specialised facilities that help streamline the female patient journey and enable women to access the required services in one location, while ensuring privacy and comfort.

Commenting on the project, Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Nasser Al Kharusi, General Manager of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at Sohar Aluminium, stated that the initiative reflects the company's commitment to directing its corporate social responsibility efforts towards projects that address the actual needs of the community and deliver a tangible, sustainable impact on people's lives. He noted that investing in community health is an important avenue for creating sustainable social value. He added that cooperation with government institutions enables combining the efforts and resources to implement impactful projects that support national development priorities and improve community members' access to more specialised and efficient healthcare services.

Dr Ahmed bin Said Al Kalbani, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services in Al Dhahirah Governorate, noted that the inauguration of the Breast Imaging Unit represents an important step in developing diagnostic services across the governorate, helping strengthen healthcare institutions' readiness to respond to community needs. He also emphasised the importance of integrating diagnostic services with community awareness of the value of early detection and adherence to screening recommendations in accordance with medical guidance.

It is worth noting that the project takes on added significance considering data recorded at Ibri Hospital, which indicates the increase of breast cancer cases that were diagnosed in 2026 up to the date the statistics were compiled, compared with previous years. These figures underscore the importance of continuing to develop diagnostic capabilities and strengthen health awareness to support early detection efforts and respond to women's healthcare needs across the governorate.

Furthermore, the project exemplifies the integration of private-sector social responsibility with healthcare development priorities by supporting specialised infrastructure that helps enhance diagnostic services, facilitate beneficiaries' access to these services, and advance efforts to improve the quality of healthcare in the Sultanate of Oman.