Friday, October 15, 2010

Breast Cancer awareness in Saudi-Arabia and pink abayas

This month is international Breast Cancer awareness month and it can be seen in Saudi-Arabia as well.

A National Awareness Campaign to Combat Breast Cancer has been inaugurated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to coincide with international Breast Cancer Awareness month. The campaign is led by Princess Hessah bint Trad Al-Shaalan, the Honorary President of the Zahra Breast Cancer Association and wife of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and Princess Rima bint Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

The hospital I work in has also numerous happenings on Breast Cancer awareness. The Saudi patients affected with breast cancer still tend to be very stigmatized by society and unfortunately I feel this sometimes effects the outcome of the patients treatments.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the Kingdom and is the number one killer of women in the region. Saudi Arabia continues to work with the global community to fight this disease.

I've had several young breast cancer patients in their 30's, that have been in terminal care. It is very sad and I see a profound sorrow in these women. If their cancer would have been detected earlier, the end results could be different. Breast cancer remains such a big taboo in Saudi that women often feel ashamed or scared to seek treatment until it's too late.

This month I wanted to get a pink abaya (well not ALL pink because of Muttawa issues) so I had one made last week. It has like a Pink Ribbon-edge on the front where it closes and the whole sleeves are pink too! I have seen in fact many young women donning either pink headscarves, pink decorations or ribbons on abayas and pink handbags this month, and I'm sure it's not all coincidence so I guess the message is spreading!

This weekend designer bags and makeup bags are being sold at Yibreen spa boutique on Takhasusi street next to King Faisal hospital, proceeds will go to Zahra Breast Cancer association. Check out their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8164637329

Saudi Cancer site: http://www.saudicancer.com/en/


3 comments:

Muslimah said...

I really wish to see how does it looks like when dressed :)

Seikku said...

You go girl!!!

Anonymous said...

I bought a pink abaya thinking it would look adorable for things like this...turns out I just look like a gigantic marshmallow peep :(

maybe I will dig out my sewing supplies and add some black to it. haha. Then maybe it will take away some of the "peep-ness"