Sidon politicians unite to raise breast cancer awareness

SIDON, Lebanon: Sidon’s rival politicians put politics aside over the weekend to unite over a cause: breast cancer awareness.

Sidon’s MP Bahia Hariri, former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Popular Nasserite Organization head Osama Saad and Mayor of Sidon Mohammad Saudi were among those present at a ceremony at Sidon’s Rest House restaurant Saturday.

With the aim of raising awareness of breast cancer and showing solidarity with people diagnosed with it, the event was organized by the Lebanese Breast Cancer Foundation, in collaboration with Sidon’s municipality and the American University of Beirut’s Medical Center.

The opposing factions lit Sidon’s sea citadel with pink projectors to celebrate the cause.

“This lighting [of the citadel] is a reminder for all of us that we have deviated from our message and goal ... and that authoritarianism, violence and oppression are moving from one city to another, terrorizing people, destroying homes and killing children and women,” Hariri said.

“We are in desperate need to reconsider our ethics and values that we were raised on.

“Let’s fight breast cancer together and the cancer of ignorance and hatred with education, knowledge, unity and solidarity.”

For his part, Siniora, a lawmaker for the city, stressed the importance of awareness.

“The aim of this activity is to work together so that [people will have] better knowledge and understanding of this disease that can’t be cured, but can be prevented,” Siniora said.

“We can reduce cases of breast cancer through knowledge, awareness and empowering women,” Siniora said. “This is not the concern of women only. Men should also raise awareness.”

For his part, Saudi revealed that he and his wife were cancer survivors, and urged people to have the necessary checkups.

“It’s time to expand the awareness campaigns so that they reach every woman in the Arab world in order to warn of the dangers of breast cancer,” Saudi said.

He added that it was important for women to know that they shouldn’t feel embarrassed to take the necessary tests or to know more about them.

Dr. Naji Saghir, the head of the LBCF, expressed his appreciation to all the officials that were contributing to the efforts by raising awareness of the cancer.

“With our presence in Sidon we prove our keenness to raise health awareness in all of Lebanon,” said Saghir, professor of clinical medicine hematology-oncology at AUBMC.