U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Research and Awareness Expands Effort to Jordan

With the expansion today of the U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Research and Awareness, the women of Jordan will begin benefiting from an initiative bringing the best of their country together with the best of the United States in the areas of breast cancer awareness, research, and medical treatment.

At a kick-off meeting for the partnership in Amman this morning, the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, the King Hussein Cancer Center, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center announced they will work collaboratively to help Jordanians become more comfortable confronting the issue of breast cancer and improve early detection and treatment of the disease.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s senior advisor on women’s empowerment, Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli, lauded those taking on an important and sensitive issue in Jordan, acknowledging the difficulty in being among the first to stand up, speak out, and take action to address serious challenges.

Tahir-Kheli was joined by Jordanian Princess Ghida Talal, chairwoman of the King Hussein Cancer Center; Princess Dina Mired, director of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation; former U.S. Ambassador Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure; and Hala Moddelmog, Komen chief executive officer. USAID mission director Anne Aarnes represented U.S. Ambassador to Jordan David Hale.

The U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research is a response to calls from women in the Middle East working on breast cancer grassroots advocacy, research, training, community outreach, and women’s empowerment. The partnership is active in the UAE and Saudi Arabia as well.

The effort is supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. MEPI supports greater freedom and opportunity for people in the region and has devoted more than
$293 million in four years to reformers so democracy can spread, education can thrive, economies can grow, and women can be empowered.