- 'Global Pink Ribbons' initiative unites GE staff from around the world in efforts to continue raising disease awareness
Dubai, UAE; October 17, 2011: GE Healthcare hosted its 'GE Global Pink Ribbons' campaign in Dubai, one of only 25 locations from around the world, to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The employees of GE in Dubai formed a 'human ribbon' as part of the campaign.
"Campaigns such as the 'GE Global Pink Ribbons' initiative are tremendously important --- they remind us that more people are being diagnosed with breast cancer than ever before," said Aziz Koleilat, General Manager at GE Healthcare in the Middle East region.
"We are sending a message around awareness and earlier detection that says, 'this issue is important and more can be done.' We must continue to find better ways to address this disease and help patients, so aligned with this initiative, we are also committed to dedicating an even greater share of our R&D budget to continue developing new oncology solutions. "
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women worldwide, comprising 16% of all female cancers. Developing countries bear a disproportionate burden for breast cancer, making up an estimated 69% of breast cancer deaths.1
Two-thirds of all women around the world must forgo regular breast cancer screenings due to a lack of access to the appropriate facilities, up-to-date imaging technologies or trained medical professionals. GE Healthcare is committed to reaching many of these women through a series of multilateral in-country partnerships with governments, NGOs and local health partners who can help mobilize efforts on the ground in each region.
To raise awareness of breast cancer as part of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, GE had hosted a Breast Cancer Screening Symposium in Saudi Arabia, which included a breast cancer screening exhibition, interactive panel discussions featuring international and regional experts, and US CME-accredited training courses for healthcare professionals.
GE Healthcare also manages the Breast Cancer Mosaic website to further raise awareness of breast cancer, and to honor people's unique and personal stories of the disease. Visitors to the interactive website are encouraged not only to browse the stories --- many of them truly touching --- but to share their own message with the world.
In September GE Healthcare launched a new online patient resource, IsMyCancerDifferent. This is the first website of its kind to focus on educating cancer patients about molecular-level testing. As part of the healthymagination commitment GE has also created an online visualization tool mapping cancer conversations on Twitter.
GE Healthcare also recently confirmed its commitment to invest in innovation by announcing that developing new cancer-targeting solutions would be among its top priorities for research and development. The company is dedicating US$1 billion of its total R&D budget over the next five years to expand its advanced cancer diagnostic and molecular imaging capabilities, as well as its world-class technologies for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals and for cancer research.
GE Healthcare has been making equipment to detect and treat breast cancer since the 1960s. In 1999, GE Healthcare was the first company to introduce full-field digital mammography (FFDM), which has made breast cancer exams more efficient for women. GE Healthcare estimates that, since then, tens of millions of breast examinations have been performed with its diagnostic imaging technologies worldwide.
GE Healthcare has a long history of public and private sector partnerships in the Middle East region, where it supports public and private healthcare providers with advanced technologies and solutions to address the spectrum of medical needs.
Kelly Home
ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller
[email protected]
+971 4 4507 600
Nivine William
ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller
[email protected]
+971 4 4507 600
Caroline Wehbeh
GE Communications Leader, North Africa
[email protected]
+971 4 429 6318