Business & Money | Wednesday 14 October, 2015 4:31 am |

Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, patronized the inauguration of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and a ceremony to mark the signing of an agreement between SABIC and Zahra Breast Cancer Association in Riyadh on October 12. Under the agreement SABIC will support Zahra Association with a donation of five fully equipped mobile clinics for the early detection of breast cancer, in addition to a central monitoring unit to regulate the work of these clinics, totally valued at SR 24.75 million. The ceremony was attended by Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayan Al-Saud, Chairman of SABIC and the Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu. 

 

After the national anthem and a recitation from the Holy Quran, Princess Haifa bint Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Chairperson, Zahra Breast Cancer Association highlighted the importance of the campaign, which was conducted under the title “Discover the secret, detect cancer”. In her speech, she praised SABIC’s support through this agreement, the second of its kind. 

 

Speaking at the event, Yousef Al-Benyan, acting SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO, said that SABIC has been keen to contribute to this humanitarian national campaign as part of its social responsibility strategy, under which it seeks to meet its national obligations and help society develop in key areas. “We found this unique opportunity to finance these five mobile clinics to support the health sector and contribute towards national efforts to reduce the incidence of cancer.” Al-Benyan pointed out that SABIC had invested more than SR 2.7 billion in implementing a number of innovative community welfare programs during the past ten years.  

 

The agreement was signed on behalf of SABIC by Ali Al-Shamrani, VP, CEO Business Support and Executive Affairs, and acting VP, Corporate Communications, while Dr. Suaad Mohamed bin Aamer, Vice Chairman, Zahra Breast Cancer Association, signed on behalf of Zahra Breast Cancer Association.

 

SABIC’s agreement with Zahra adds to the series of programs it has initiated to support the health sector for the benefit of all spectra of society. They include: the National Project on Prevention of Drugs (NIBRAS) at a cost of SR 50 million over five years; the SABIC Specialized Hospital for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment in Riyadh in collaboration with the Ministry of Health at a cost of SR 300 million;  the Autism Research Center at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) at a cost of SR 45 million; and the Saudi National Health and Stress Survey Program to establish a database of persons with mental health issues, valued at SR 11.7 million. 

 

Other initiatives taken by SABIC to serve the local community include a SR 7 million sponsorship program for disabled children, which would cover the medical and education costs for 20 children over five years; the SR 10 million endowment fund in support of autistic children and their parents; and the first model schools for children suffering from Down's syndrome in Riyadh at a cost of SR 10 million.