SOCIAL AWARENESS

Making It Our Business (MIOB)

 

Making It Our Business (MIOB) is the name for the breast health awareness raising program initiated by the US Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research in collaboration with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and coordinated by Vital Voices. It began with the visit of the former US First Lady to our office in October 2007, when several multinational and local businesses committed to run this program within their own organisations.

 

The purpose of MIOB is to educate staff about how to prevent, detect and treat breast cancer. The cost of participating in this program is free and it is open to any organisations to join.

 

At the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, we have encouraged several of our employees to be trained by a Vital Voices representative and in turn, they have helped educate more employees about the risk of breast cancer and how to prevent and treat the disease. In October 2008, Dubai Chamber organised an awareness campaign through print media and held an MIOB gala with all participating organisations. Also last year, the Chamber sponsored and participated in the breast cancer walkathon, distributed communication material to employees and offered them free professional check-ups. This year, in addition to the walkathon, different internal activities will take place such as the Pink Breakfast and a Pink Bazaar to get employees engaged in this issue and raise funds for cancer treatment.

 

The Director General and 2nd Vice Chairman present an award to the UAE Minister at the MIOB Gala, 2008	Dr Houriya Kazim presents at the MIOB Gala, 2008

 

Dubai Chamber head office with the Pink Ribbon, 2008

 

Participation in MIOB has allowed our organisation to break down taboos and increase awareness about breast health among our employees, their families and friends, as well as enhance communication across our departments while building team spirit and pride in our organisation. Most importantly, this program has helped save lives, including one of our own staff members and others in the broader community who benefited from the sponsorship and funding we have provided through our activities. We see this program as an important element of our Corporate Social Responsibility and we encourage other organisations to participate.

 

For more information about the MIOB program and how your organisation can get involved, please call us and ask to be connected to our Corporate Social Responsibility manager.