DUBAI — Eleven corporations in the UAE have rallied behind the US-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research in its mission to implement a workplace awareness programme in Dubai.
The drive — ‘Making it Our Business — launched yesterday in the presence of the US First Lady Laura Bush and Princess Haya bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) — is aimed at bringing down mortality rate among the victims of this disease, which is predicted to afflict 25 million women worldwide in 25 years.
The US first lady and Princess Haya were received by Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of Dubai Chamber, along with board members and the director-general and representatives of top business leaders and business women from the Dubai Business Women Council.
Welcoming the US First Lady on her first visit to Dubai, Princess Haya stressed the need to spread awareness and knowledge on breast cancer which knows no geographical limits. She called for cooperation among the entities concerned to spread awareness on breast cancer.
Addressing the meeting at the DCCI, Laura Bush recalled that only 25 years ago women in the United States were embarrassed to speak about breast cancer and stressed the need to educate women about the importance of early detection in order to survive.
Earlier yesterday, Laura Bush attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Abu Dhabi Health Authority and US-based Susan G. Komen For the Cure to work together on a breast cancer awareness programme.
According to Erin Walsh, Senior Adviser at the Bureau of Near East Affairs at the US Department of State, while the mortality rate of breast cancer patients in the US has been reduced to 25 per cent in the US, it is between 40 and 44 in the UAE.
Al Tayer praised US First Lady’s effort in spreading awareness on breast cancer fight among women in the Middle East region, and for choosing the UAE as part of her tour to promote the importance of adopting effective breast cancer awareness programs in the Middle East.
Raja Al Gurg, President of Dubai Business Women Council, highlighted the importance of enhancing health awareness among business ladies, and the significance of Dubai Chamber’s participation in the ‘Making it Our Business’ programme which goes in line with the Chamber’s commitment to support business women in Dubai through their council.
The ‘Making it Our Business’ breast cancer awareness program focuses on urging US and UAE charter companies to adopt and apply this program in their companies. Apart from Dubai Chamber, the UAE charter companies include Dubai Holding, Emaar Properties, Dubai World, Al Ghurair Group of Companies, Al Tayer Group, and Essa Saleh Al Gurg Group. The US charter companies include General Electric, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Federal Express and Microsoft M.E.