Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation welcomes Pink Caravan with great hospitality

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation hosted on Wednesday the Pink Caravan Ride, a UAE-wide awareness initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients, FoCP, with great hospitality at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

This came on the ninth day of The Pink Caravan’s journey of spreading awareness about breast cancer and the importance of its early detection. The warm reception reflected the great support and attention given by government bodies and officials to the Pink Caravan initiative for its noble message.

On its ninth day, the Pink Caravan Ride kicked off from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi, where the ministry's diplomatic and administrative staff gathered to greet the Pink Caravan’s team, praising their national and humanitarian role in raising community awareness against breast cancer.

Khalid Ghanem Al Ghaith, UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs, Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, Director General of FOCP and Head of the Pink Caravan Medical and Awareness Committee, Reem BinKaram, Head of the Pink Caravan Events Committee were present at the event.

In a kind and collaborative gesture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation distributed thousand copies of electronic publications and brochures containing detailed information about breast cancer, the importance of its early detection and self-examination, as well as the risk factors associated with breast cancer and how to deal with it in case of incidence. The brochures were distributed to all its affiliated embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions, under its close supervision, in line with its belief and commitment to the social responsibility, and its keen desire to spread the Pink Caravan's message of awareness and hope as widely as possible.

The ministry's premises hosted the mammogram mobile clinic and a training workshop about breast cancer that was attended by the ministry’s staff and visitors of various nationalities, along with its administrative and diplomatic team. The workshop saw great interaction by the audience who was keen to be learn about breast cancer and its early detection methods.

In this regard, Khalid Ghanem Al Ghaith, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Economic Affairs, expressed his thanks and gratitude for the Pink Caravan Ride for its role in organizing this campaign, reaching out to the ministry's diplomatic and administrative staff, and contributing to the awareness efforts about breast cancer, and the importance of early detection as a protection from the disease.

"Our support to the campaign is in line with the approach and principles of the medical diplomacy that is supported by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation", Al Ghaith Added.

Ameera BinKaram, Founding Member and President of the Board of Directors of Friends of Cancer Patients society (FoCP) and Chairperson of the Pink Caravan’s Higher Steering Committee said, "We appreciate the immense support extended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to the Pink Caravan. We extend our profound thanks and appreciation to the ministry's diplomatic and administrative staff for the great hospitality the Pink Caravan Ride received.

This has greatly helped facilitating the Pink Caravan's mission of spreading awareness about breast cancer and the importance of its early detection, and offering free screenings to wider segments of the UAE community in the capital Abu Dhabi."

She added, "The co-operation of federal ministries and local bodies with the Pink Caravan, over the past six years, truly reflects the government sector's commitment in supporting humanitarian initiatives through social responsibility, thereby achieving more interdependence and solidarity between all community segments, and contributing significantly to providing necessities and requirements for all community members to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle."

She expressed her appreciation to all those, whether individuals or groups, who contributed to the success of the Pink Caravan's noble message being spread, attempting to fight against breast cancer, reducing its incidence and negative impacts on the UAE community. She praised the initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that included the printing and distribution of thousands of brochures about breast cancer awareness.

Since its inception in 2011, the Pink Caravan has managed to carve out and establish its footing in the UAE community where it enjoys great attention and support from all community members, government and private institutions, and civil society organisations. This is attributed to the Pink Caravan's success in raising awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and its dangers, as well as in offering free screenings to people across the UAE, and its active role and activities that are aimed at dispelling misconceptions surrounding it and supporting patients and their families.
Source:WAM