Dubai Women's College participates in National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

The seminar incorporated a thirty-minute lecture on the importance of early breast cancer detection by Dr. Huda Al Suwaidi, Consultant Family Medicine, Bader Health Center, followed by an interactive Q & A session.

The event concluded with the much-anticipated announcement of the "Pink Design" Competition, launched earlier this month. The winner, Khawla Sabeel Bilal, was awarded a 'Pink Pack' and the winning artwork was printed on over 500 T-shirts, which will be sold for charity at the college during October and November. Mariam Abdul Rahman, one of the members of the judging committee, explained that the winning design was chosen because it was unique and was found to be particularly inspiring as it portrayed a spirit of hope.

"We are honoured and delighted to lend our support to the National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign this year," said Dr. Howard Reed, Director, Dubai Women's College. "We hope that these activities will not only educate all our students but also encourage them to spread the message to their mothers and sisters."

The campaign, which was launched on October first under the UAE Ministry of Health (MoH), General Authority for Health Services for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (GAHS), the Department of Health and Medical Services, Dubai (DoHMS) and in conjunction with Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and GE Healthcare, aims to encourage as many women in the UAE to get tested by running educational seminars and offering discounted and free mammography testing at selected centres across the Emirates.

"One of the main objectives of this campaign is to drive women to get tested," explained Rima Khadra, Communications Manager, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. "Early detection saves lives and we are trying to educate women through seminars because education is empowerment," she added.

In addition to the educational seminar and "Pink Design" Competition, DWC is planning several other activities for October and November, including a "Pink Day" at the Cafeteria on October 29th, "Pink Movie Day" on November 2nd, and a "Pink Aerobics Marathon" on November 15th where all participants have to wear the Winning Pink Design Competition T-shirts.

Several private hospitals and centres across the Emirates have shown their commitment to the campaign by offering discounts on mammography tests during this period. In addition, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, the Maternal and Child Health Centre in Sharjah and Alfa Medical Group in Dubai, will all be offering free mammographies for local and expatriate women during October and November.