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(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070122/NYM084LOGO)
"Breast cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in Hungary, killing morethan 2,000 women each year," said Susan G. Komen for the Cure Founder andbreast cancer survivor Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker. "The need to provide women-- regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status -- equal accessto screening and an equal opportunity to beat a breast cancer diagnosis hasnever been greater." Ambassador Brinker announced the gift at a pressconference held at Gerbeaud House this morning.
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"The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee established WHEP morethan a decade ago as part of our mission to support and empower vulnerablepopulations around the world. Our ongoing partnership with Susan G. Komen forthe Cure, which began in 2004, has enabled JDC to continue to provide criticalassistance to women who might otherwise have no chance at survival," saidSteve Schwager, Chief Executive Officer of JDC. "We are pleased and thankfulfor Komen for the Cure's ongoing support of our programming and look forwardto furthering our joint objective to educate and empower women -- young andold -- about services and treatments for breast cancer," he added.
Dr. Klara Dobrev, wife of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Ambassador AprilFoley, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, Itai Shamir, JDC's Director of WHEP, highranking public health officials and NGO representatives joined AmbassadorBrinker at the press conference.
This new grant follows recent WHEP efforts in Hungary which include EqualChance Against Breast Cancer, a series of "health days" in rural locations,designed to address striking disparities in breast cancer incidence amongHungarian Roma women. Roma women are three times more likely to die fromcancer than non-Roma women. Other recent WHEP initiatives include theestablishment of a Society of Senology in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and hosting anunprecedented conference in Moscow which united leaders from the region todiscuss the critical issue.
A roundtable discussion on the state of breast cancer in Hungary precededthis morning's announcement. During the discussion, Ambassador Brinkerstressed the importance of transparency and collaboration as organizationswork together to combat breast cancer. "Sharing knowledge and creating an opendialogue with government officials, NGOs, activists, survivors and the medicalcommunity will bring us closer to decreasing breast cancer incidence andmortality in Hungary," added Ambassador Brinker.
Roundtable panelists included Dr. Klara Dobrev, Dr. Melinda Medgyaszai,under secretary Ministry for Health, Dr. Ferenc Falus, director of PublicHealth and Medical Officers Services, Dr. Andrea Odor, head nurse of PublicHealth and Medical Officers Services, Maria M. Bodor, president of theAssociation of the Cancer Patients, Dr. Laszlo Vass, President of theHungarian Senologists' Society. Audience participants were patients, doctors,public health officials, NGOs and Romani women.
July marks Ambassador Brinker's second visit to Hungary this year. Thispast September, Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced its Global
