NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMAN OF COURAGE AWARD

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000273

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL, ECA, G/IWI, NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: KWMN KMPI PHUM PREL KPAO AE
SUBJECT: NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMAN OF COURAGE AWARD

REF: SECSTATE 12871


1. Post nominates Dr. Houriya Kazim to receive the Secretary of
State's Award for International Women of Courage. Following is her
information:

Name: Dr. Houriya Kazim
Title: Consultant General Surgeon (Breast Diseases),and Director of
Well Woman Clinic.
Tel: +971-04-332-7117
Fax: +971-04-332-7107
Email: wwc@emirates.net.ae

Justification:

Dr. Kazim was the UAE's first female surgeon, in a profession
locally dominated by men. She has been a significant force for
breast cancer awareness in a country where the very subject is
largely taboo. Dr. Kazim attended medical school at the Royal
College of Surgeons in Ireland where she obtained her fellowship in
General Surgery before sub-specializing in Surgical Oncology, and
focused particularly on breast surgery and reconstruction. She was
also a fellow at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
Amid all the social conservatism, lack of awareness and an
essentially male-dominated arena, the UAE was desperately in need of
a woman specialist for breast cancer -- the foremost lethal disease
among middle aged women worldwide. Women in the UAE hesitate to
have their breasts examined due to the scarcity of female doctors.
Dr. Kazim specialized in Surgical Oncology --specifically breast
surgery. Although in many western countries such a choice would not
have been an issue of note, in a traditional and conservative
society like the UAE it was a tremendous step outside what was seen
as socially and culturally appropriate. The social stigma about a
woman losing her breasts to cancer adds an additional layer of
complexity. Although no official data exists on the number of women
suffering from breast cancer in the UAE, many are diagnosed here but
are forced to seek treatment abroad.

Dr Kazim is dedicated to promoting awareness of breast cancer in the
region despite cultural and social pressures. She established the
first breast cancer support group in the UAE -- "Breast Friends" --
which meets monthly in Dubai and offers a varied program of both
education and support. The group has also implemented a buddy
system for those having their five to six weeks radiation therapy in
Al Ain. Despite the UAE being generally advanced in medical
technology, women can only receive two of the three steps of
treatment (surgery and chemotherapy) in Dubai. During their third
phase of therapy, women suffering from breast cancer need to have
radiation therapy. Participation at Breast Friends makes it
possible to be driven by another member of the group to Al Ain every
day for the above-mentioned period of time, instead of taking a
public bus or driving themselves.

In addition to founding the breast cancer support group, she has
also established a Breast Cancer Foundation -- the Dr. Houriya Kazim
Breast Cancer Research Fund -- a non-profit organization for
education, research and financial support of breast cancer. She is
also the founder and director of the Well Woman Clinic in Dubai, a
clinic only for women with only women doctors on staff.

Dr. Kazim has also pushed against another local prejudice as an
Emirati woman married to a non-Emirati. She is married to an
American journalist.


2. Hilary Olsin-Windecker is the Emboff following women's issues at
post, tel: +971-2-414-2332, fax: +971-2-414-2442.

SISON
07Cable-Woman of Courage award (2) (2) UNCLASSIFIED