From L to R: Nathan Pang, Prof Dr Yip, Margaret Gooi, Adeline Joseph, Dr Evelyn Ho,
Yg Bhg Puan Azrene Abdullah, Ranjit Kaur and Moira Kok.
Novartis-MBCC Launch Award Programme to Spur Breast Cancer Advocacy – 5 Dec 2005
Novartis in partnership with the Malaysian Breast Cancer Council (MBCC) launched the first ever, Novartis-MBCC Breast Cancer Leadership Award. Mr Nathan Pang, Regional business Unit Head of Novartis Oncology Asia Pacific also dedicated the event in tribute of the late Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood (late wife of the Prime Minister) for her outstanding, relentless and selfless campaign to improve the lives of women with breast cancer in Malaysia.  | Mr Nathan Pang, Regional business Unit Head of Novartis Oncology Asia Pacific |
Four individuals were acknowledged for their outstanding contributions in the fight against breast cancer. These were Prof Dr Yip Cheng Har, Margaret Gooi, Adeline Joseph and Dr Evelyn Ho. Adeline was pleasantly surprised as it was only at the event that she was told the National Cancer Society had nominated and submitted her citation for consideration. Yang Bahagia Puan Azrene Abdullah, Chairperson of PRIDE (Pink Ribbon Deeds) officiated at the event. In her speech, it was inevitable that she made reference to her late mother-in-law, Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood and the great impact the late First Lady had on her. The President of the Malaysian Breast Cancer Council also shared her own experience during her speech in an exhortation to the government and Ministry of Health to improve the level of cancer diagnosis, treatment and care for the Malaysian public. Rampant advertising with misleading information about unproven treatments and methods to screen for breast cancer caused great harm to the vulnerable public and she pleaded for controls to be urgently implemented. Malaysian Celebrity Joanna Bessy was the emcee for the event and breast cancer advocacy groups, breast cancer survivors, members of the Malaysian Breast Cancer Council and friends came to support the event. After Joanna read the citations of all the four nominees for the award, Yang Bahagia Puan Azrene Abdullah was given the “envelope” to announce the winner of the Breast Cancer Leadership Award. Dr Evelyn Ho from the College of Radiology won the inaugural award. Evelyn was choked with emotion when she was called upon to give a short speech. In addition to expressing her thanks to everyone, she said this win was for everyone involved in breast cancer advocacy and it was the close cooperation that made it all possible. Novartis is a world leader in pharmaceutical and consumer health with the headquarters in Basel, Switzerland (www.novartis.com). Novartis has several community projects: Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (which has assisted nearly 400 needy Malaysians suffering from chronic myeloid leukaemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumour); Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases in partnership with Singapore’s Economic Development Board and others.
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