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Progress in the fight against cervical cancer in Zambia

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Learn more about Hannah Abney.
Hannah Abney
Chief Communications Counselor
George W. Bush Presidential Center

During a visit to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka today, President George W. Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush, First Lady of Zambia Dr. Christine...

During a visit to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka today, President George W. Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush, First Lady of Zambia Dr. Christine Kaseba, Zambian Minister of Health Dr. J Kasonde, and United States Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella dedicated the African Center of Excellence for Women’s Cancer Control.

President Bush also announced the donation of a new electronic hub (e-Hub) at the Center of Excellence, on behalf of all Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon ® (PRRR) members and partners.

In addition, President Bush announced assistance to PRRR from Airborne Lifeline, a nonprofit organization that will provide airfreight services for medical equipment and transport medical personnel and patients as well as the support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which has provided the funding for a Health Promotion Manager who will be hired and based in Africa to support PRRR activities.

Liz Thompson, President of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Colleen J. McGuffin, Vice President of Health Engagement & Customer Value at Merck Vaccines and Dr. Allan Pamba, Director of Public Engagement & Access Initiatives at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) were on hand to announce PRRR initiatives supporting the Republic of Zambia and the fight against women’s cancers, demonstrating the deep commitment of PRRR members and partners in expanding the availability of vital cervical cancer prevention, screening and treatment, and breast care education to those in need.

The vision of the African Center of Excellence for Women’s Cancer Control is to reduce deaths from women’s cancers in the African region by raising the standards of care through education, training and research, with a focus on primary and secondary prevention and treatment of early stage disease. The e-Hub, also called the electronic matrix, is a unique platform that permits distance learning and point of care to support and narrow the health workforce gap that exists in Zambia and across many countries in Africa.