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The Global Initiative on the Ground
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The city of Abu Dhabi, home of the global Initiative’s partners in the UAE.
For more photos from the Komen Global Initiative in the United Arab Emirates go to the Photo Gallery |
PROGRAM SITES
Abu Dhabi is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab
Emirates (UAE). It is the largest emirate by area and population.
The city of Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) and the seat of government of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The
majority of the inhabitants of the city are expatriates from India,
Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and various
other countries.
The three target regions of the Global Initiative in the Emirate of
Abu Dhabi are: Eastern, Western, and Island/Middle. |
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WHO WE ARE
In-Country Staff
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Senior Program Manager, Island / Middle Region
Dr. Jalaa Asaad Taher started her training in general surgery, but she shifted her focus to
public health issues with special focus in women’s health, and she earned a Masters in Woman
& Child health from University College of London- UK. Jalaa has over seven years of experience in the field of breast cancer screening. She works as breast clinician for the National Health Screening Program for Woman & Child, Abu Dhabi. Her area of expertise is mainly in clinical
assessment of various breast abnormalities, including clinical breast examination, reading and
reporting mammograms, and performing breast ultrasound and image-guided breast biopsies.
Jalaa was involved in other activities during her work for the breast cancer screening program:
She trained CBE for Primary Health Center doctors, prepared health education materials
(booklets, procures and posters) and was involved in planning of various activities of the yearly
breast health awareness campaign.
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Program Manager, Eastern Region
Dr. Ghuwaya Mohammed Al-Neyadi was born in Al-Ain, UAE, and she holds her MB BS
from UAE University. She began her medical training in 1999 as an intern, then as a Family
Resident, General practitioner and finally as a Family & Community Medicine Specialist. She
holds a certificate of the Arab board of Medical Specialization in Family and Community
Medicine, as well as the equivalent degree in the UAE, a Doctorate in Family and Community
medicine, and an Executive Master of Healthcare Administration from Zayed University. Dr. Al
Neyadi has a variety of teaching experience, including case presentations, critical appraisal of
journals, and evidence-based medical research. Her background in breast cancer includes
participation in awareness activities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and experience in treating
breast cancer patients through medical, surgical, and phsychological management, both in the
hospital and in primary care practice. She has also conducted research and statistical work
related to breast cancer.
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Program Manager, Western Region
Dr. Walaa Sabih has been working in the remote areas of the Western Region of Abu-Dhabi
for the past eight years, participating in various activities which promote the health livelihoods of
women and children in the region. Through the cooperation of the local Health Authority,
regional women's social networks, and the Ministry of Education, HAAD provides routine
prenatal care for women of childbearing age and preventive pediatric care services for children
under five. Walaa has participated in various health education activities that aim to empower
women and adolescent girls. These activities promote breast health education, active
participation in breast cancer screening, healthy lifestyle choices, and breastfeeding. Walaa
obtained her M.B.ChB in 1982, her postgraduate specialization in Community Medicine from
Baghdad, Iraq in 1993, and the International Board Certified Lactation Consultancy in 2004.
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Master Trainer, Western Region
Dr. Asia Noah Ahmed graduated from Cordovan University in Sudan, and completed the
WHO Course in Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI), with the Sudan Ministry
of Health. Her work has centered on children’s health management, including health education
and school health. For the past two years she has worked in Gayathi Hospital, which serves a
primarily Bedouin community. The hospital works in collaboration with the Family and
Development Foundation and the Ruwais Female Club to give women’s health education and
empowerment training, as well as advocacy on breast cancer, health, and family issues.
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Master Trainer, Eastern Region
Jamila Al Balushi has over nine years of development and health promotion experience. She
holds a Diploma in Nursing from the UAE Institute of Nursing in Al-Ain, and the International
Board Certified Lactation Consultancy from Austria. Currently working in Primary Healthcare
(PHC) for the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD), her area of expertise is in training,
developing, and promoting the knowledge of nurses in Primary Healthcare and the community.
She has worked as an RN in Kahbisi Heath Center in PHC, and in education and nursing
services for PHC. She is a member of the Baby Friendly Community Committee which prompts
and supports breastfeeding in PHC, a member of the Breast Cancer Screening Program subcommittee,
and a coordinator for both committees in PHC. Jamila is also a member of the
Continuous Nursing Education committee under HAAD, for developing the knowledge of nurses
to promote the optimum health of the patients. She arranges women’s health workshops for
women in higher secondary schools and for women’s associations on issues related to
breastfeeding and breast cancer screening.
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Master Trainer, Island / Middle Region
Dr. Lamia Ahmed Safi El-Deen was born in Khartoum, Sudan, and she has lived in the
UAE for more than 20 years. She holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of
Khartoum and a Masters degree in Zoontec Diseases from the London School of Epidemiology.
In May 2000 she joined the Oncology Department at Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, where
she has worked as the organizer of a breast cancer support group since 2003. |
The UAE country team is advised by a committee of HAAD staff, including Dr. Oliver Harrison, Head of Public
Health, HAAD; and H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al Mazrouie, Chairman, HAAD; and Eng. Zaid Al Siksek, Chief Executive
Officer, HAAD.
Participants
 The Komen Global Initiative conducts workshops based on the Course for the Cure™ training modules. The participants in these workshops include doctors, nurses, health educators, civil servants and others who are in
positions to train and bring awareness to the general population of the United Arab Emirates.
See profiles of participants in the Global Initiative – UAE
PARTNERSHIPS
Lead Partner Organization:
The Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD)
The mission of the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) is to ensure reliable high quality healthcare for the people of
the Emirate. As the regulator of the health system, it sets clear standards for clinicians and clinical facilities in the
both public and private sectors, issuing licenses and inspecting against these standards. In 2008, the HAAD
transferred all public hospitals and primary care clinics to a publicly-owned holding company called SEHA
(meaning “health” in Arabic), which now operates the facilities in partnership with world-class institutions such as
Johns Hopkins University, the Cleveland Clinic, and the University of Vienna/Vamed. HAAD, SEHA and private
sector providers work together to ensure healthcare in Abu Dhabi meets the highest international standards and is
available to all residents of the Emirate. In addition, the Abu Dhabi Government invests strongly in Public Health
to address its core priorities, particularly cardiovascular disease, road death, and cancer.
The HAAD team will share its findings with the National Higher Committee for Breast Cancer Control, to ensure that
the results of the Global Initiative inform the development of this high-level group of government officials and
medical professionals.
STATISTICS
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Breast Cancer in the UAE:
Incidence: 24.1 / 100,000
Mortality: 10.5 / 100,000
Mortality/Incidence: 44%
Globocan 2002. Rates expressed are ASR(W)
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Statistics show that in the UAE, more than 60% of
women with breast cancer present for the first time
with late stage disease, when the prospects of curative
intervention are low. Historically only about 10% of
eligible women have participated in free screening
programs. Thus, whilst the overall incidence rates for
breast cancer in the UAE appear normal or even
relatively low, the pattern of late detection drives a
high mortality-to-incidence ratio of 44%.
Abu Dhabi Emirate has an uneven population
distribution, with a sparsely populated, rural Western
Region, and more than 70% of the population located
in the cities of Abu Dhabi (the capital) and Al Ain (in
the Emirate’s Eastern Region). This disparity poses a
challenge for equitable patient access to high-quality
screening services. The new approach of the Health
Authority Abu Dhabi combines fixed sites in popular
primary healthcare clinics and mobile facilities that
travel to the women in rural areas.
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General Statistics
ABU DHABI
Emirate Population: 1.6 million
City Population: 930,000
Male/Female Ratio (UAE total): 2.2M
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Persian, Hindi, Urdu
Source: CIA World Factbook (2007 estimate) |
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