Volume 2, Issue 1 - Abu Dhabi Women's College - Higher Colleges ...

ADWC PEARLSAdversity Presents OpportunitiesTo Make a Differencethe guidance of faculty, studentsset up pink booths where they soldfood, gift items and even pink slush.There was pink everywhere, eventhe assembly hall was adorned withpink drapes. Throughout the bazaar,students displayed information,distributed pink ribbons, held raffles,and challenged each other withquizzes for chances to win prizes.Following the example set by the Ministry of Health in Abu Dhabi,ADWC demonstrated its commitment to Breast Cancer Awarenessby embarking on a Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. In October,Health Sciences students undertook a major effort aimed at increasingawareness as to the risks and symptoms of Breast Cancer, the mostprevalent form cancer for women in the UAE. A well-organized andefficiently executed campaign was reflected in the posters that linedhallways along with the display boards and colorful flyers dispensinginformation about prevention and early detection.Our Health Sciences students areclearly committed to communityhealth education and stronglybelieve that educating thecommunity as well as supportingthose women and families affectedby the illness is essential in our fightagainst the disease. Far too manywomen are diagnosed even beforethe age of forty, while, contrary topublic belief, a staggering 75% ofthose diagnosed with the diseasehave no known family history.The students hope that correctingcommonly held misinformationthrough outreach and education,especially targetedat older women,will reduce fatality. “Everyone is atrisk, not just people who have afamily history” said one informedstudent. She added, “We want toraise awareness for ladies who arenot educated, to get mammogramsand to self-check monthly. Weknow about it from ourclasses, but olderwomen sometimes arenot aware.”A fund-raising bazaar,which included a raffle,attracted hundreds ofvisitors from within thecollege and community,raising thousands forthe support of breastcancer patients. WithThe room was filled with womenwearing pink ribbons, the universalsymbol for breast cancer awareness.They assembled to hear Dr. AratiShirali, a surgeon at Lifeline Hospitaland a Fellow of the European BreastCancer Network. Dr. Shirali lecturedthe audience on prevention, earlydetection and gynecological care,including mammograms andmonthly self examinations.Sharon Ellis, Health SciencesFaculty eloquently summarized thesignificance of this event as follows:“Breast Cancer Awareness Monthprovides the chance for our studentsto educate the campus community,as well as their own family membersabout breast cancer screenings”.She added,” This kind of activity isparticularly relevant here at AbuDhabi Women’s College, becauseour Health Sciences programs focuson both health education and healthinformation management and sincethis campaign was entirely thestudents’ idea, their work on it hascreated a sense of teamwork andincreased their sense of communityspirit.”16ADWC PEARLS Vol. 1, Issue 2, June 2009