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Tawam's breast cancer awareness campaign goes the extra mile

Workshops, lectures, free screening and mini marathon to promote awareness about breast cancer in the UAE
Al Ain, October 21^th 2008: Tawam Hospital in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine, has announced that it has organized one of their biggest campaigns to date for 'World Breast Cancer Awareness Month,' with the full support of various lady leaders in society.

The hospital will be offering women FREE screening and examinations as well as hosting a range of workshops and lectures in the Al Ain and Abu Dhabi area and a run / walk for breast cancer awareness on Saturday October 25^th.

With 1 in 10 women affected by breast cancer, Tawam has already visited the UAE University, the Al Ain family development foundation, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of commerce and industry giving out advice and information on breast cancer and providing FREE screening. Over the next few weeks, Tawam will be giving away educational information on breast cancer at the Al Ain Shopping Mall from October 20^th - 23^rd and also offering breast examinations and mammograms at the Al Ain Police, the Family development foundation in Abu Dhabi and the Mohammed Bin Khaleed Centre.

Speaking about the lecture that will take place on Monday October 20^th at the Mohammed Bin Khaleed Centre, Shaikha Shama Bint Khaled Al Nehyamn said: "It is an honor to be able to participate in this initiative which was started by Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Nahyan and to meet with ladies from across the society who want to know more about breast cancer prevention. We hope that as people become more educated about breast cancer that this will encourage women who may have been too shy to come forwards to come and get screened by Tawam Doctors"

The hospital's breast cancer campaign will draw to a close on Saturday October 25^th with a run / walk for breast cancer awareness which will take place at Palm Golf Club, Al Ain. It will begin at 7:00 a.m. and participants will be able to choose from a 1km, 5km or 10km depending on their individual preference and fitness level. The run is being sponsored by Emirates Motor Company - platinum sponsor.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Mr. Michael E.Heindel, CEO of Tawam Hospital said: "This year we are expecting over 2000 people to take part in the run and have been overwhelmed by the amount of interest we have had in our 2008 breast cancer awareness campaign. We have also been particularly inspired by the bravery of so many of our cancer patients and the willingness of breast cancer survivors to talk openly about their experience."

Dedicated to providing World Class treatment and cancer awareness, Tawam will be using its mobile mammography to screen women throughout the month. The mobile unit which was unveiled earlier this year is the first-ever and only mobile mammography screening unit available in the UAE. Providing patients with expert surgeons and specialists who are equipped with the very latest state-of-the-art medical equipment, procedures can be carried out effectively and successfully. As the images from the unit are instantly transmitted to the support team at Tawam Hospital, diagnosis and recommendations can be made in hours.

"Even though we have screened women for breast cancer throughout the year we hope that during Breast Cancer awareness month more women will come forward and get screened. By screening more women, more regularly, we hope to be able to significantly reduce the number of fatalities. With 1-in-10 women at risk of developing cancer, the unit will play a significant role in allowing us to screen up to 20 patients per day," said Dr. Shama Al Awar, Chairperson of Tawam's Breast Cancer Awareness Committee.

"Although breast cancer deaths are on the decline due to medical advances and screening there is still a high prevalence of breast cancer cases in the UAE. From 2005 - 2007, almost half of the breast cancer cases were residing in Abu Dhabi, one quarter from Dubai and the rest from the other emirates" added Dr. Ghuwaya Al Neyadi, Eastern Region Program Manager, Public Health Division.

In terms of survival rates, the stage at which the cancer is detected is crucial in terms of treatment options and cure rate. The earlier it is detected the better. The Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) is supporting Tawam in its fight against breast cancer and is working closely with Dr. Ghuwaya Al Nevadi and her team to further expand the program.

Tawam Hosptial is owned and operated by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company. Tawam is affiliated with Johns Hopkins medicine since 2006 and was recently re-accredited by Joint Commission International.

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About Tawam Hospital
Tawam Hospital is a premier, 477-bed tertiary care facility located in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, and the largest of the United Arab Emirates. Tawam serves as a regional referral centre for specialized medical care and a national referral centre for oncology services. Though it offers services in all specialties, the hospital is best known for its neonatal care, emergency medicine, intensive care, oncology services and state-of-the-art cardiac care.

In 2006 Tawam Hospital entered a ten year affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International demonstrating the hospital's commitment to providing the best services in the GCC region whilst minimizing patient referrals overseas.

Tawam Hospital will be launching new services in 2008 and will begin an entire revamping project resulting in state of the art facilities providing the hospitals' patients with the most recent technological facilities in the region meeting international standards.

About Johns Hopkins Medicine
When The Johns Hopkins Hospital and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine were established in Baltimore, USA, over a century ago, the founding physicians had a goal: to lead the world in treating diseases. Today, the name Johns Hopkins is synonymous with just that. Johns Hopkins Medicine continues to provide international leadership in the education of physicians and medical scientists, in biomedical research, and in the application of medical knowledge to sustain health.

About SEHA
SEHA is health in Arabic. The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company - whose corporate identity is SEHA - is an independent, public joint stock company created to manage and develop the curative activities of the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. SEHA is committed to providing quality, cost effective healthcare on par with international standards measured through accessibility, affordability, choice and satisfaction. SEHA owns and operates 13 hospital facilities, 2,644 licensed beds, and more than 39 Ambulatory and Primary Healthcare Clinics. SEHA is one of the largest employers in the Middle East with more than 16,500 doctors, nurses and other clinical staff and administration employed.

For more information, please contact:
Sumaya Al Harrasi
Business Development Senior Officer
Tawam Hospital
Tel: +971-3-7072160
Fax: +971-3-7075192
Mobile: +971508338700
E-mail: sharrasi@tawam-hosp.gov.ae

Michelle Johns
PR Executive
O2 Public Relations
Tel: +971-4-3122777
Fax: +971-4-3122700
Mobile: +971-501453625
E-mail: michelle.j@o2mc.net

© Press Release 2008