First Lady Laura Bush To Promote Breast Cancer Awareness In Upcoming Trip To Middle East

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 17 Oct 2007 - 6:00 PDT

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First lady Laura Bush on Saturday is scheduled to start a six-day visit to the Middle East in an effort to promote breast cancer awareness and treatment, Reuters reports. Bush plans to visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan during the visit (Reuters, 10/15).

Bush will tour "several cancer treatment and screening centers and launch new cancer awareness activities" while in the region, her press secretary Sally McDonough, said. She also plans to meet with government officials, medical and educational leaders, and members of women's groups to promote the U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research, which was organized by the State Department and includes the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The partnership, which Bush announced in June 2006, supports research, training and community outreach efforts, as well as educating women on how to take control of their own health, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports (AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/15).

While in the UAE, Bush is scheduled to visit a facility in Abu Dhabi that teaches women about breast cancer and preventive care and launch a breast cancer workplace awareness program with private sector leaders in Dubai. In addition, Bush plans to attend the launch of the U.S.-Saudi Arabia Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research at the King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She also is scheduled to tour the country's first community cancer screening facility and talk with breast cancer survivors and advocates in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In Kuwait, Bush plans to meet with female democratic reformers, legal advocates and business leaders. She also plans to visit the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan and announce the expansion of the U.S.-Middle East partnership to other countries in the region (White House release, 10/15).

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