In connection with October, the international breast cancer awareness month, Siemens has started a worldwide campaign to increase the public's understanding about breast cancer. Siemens is asking Internet users to upload their favorite portrait photo to a special web site. There all photos will be collected to create a virtual pink ribbon, the symbol of solidarity with breast cancer patients. As soon as the ribbon has traveled around the world once, Siemens will donate 50,000 Euros to the non-profit Susan G. Komen organization which is involved worldwide in the fight against breast cancer. In addition, Siemens has initiated a survey aimed at women in Brazil, China, Germany, India, Russia, the USA and other countries to determine the level of knowledge concerning breast cancer and early detection. The results of the survey will be published in the spring of 2011. Based on these results, Siemens will develop and distribute specific awareness material suitable for the countries included in the survey.
"More than ten percent of all women will be stricken with breast cancer during their life time. Despite this high number, large deficits exist in knowing about this disease and about early detection examinations," says Herrmann Requardt, CEO of Siemens Healthcare Sector. "The objective of our campaign is to heighten the awareness for this disease so that more women use the means available for early detection."
Siemens is therefore asking everyone who feels solidarity with breast cancer patients to post his/her favorite portrait photo to the Internet page www.siemens.com/pink. The photos will be arranged into a virtual pink ribbon that travels around the world. As soon as the ribbon has traveled once around the globe, Siemens will donate 50,000 Euros to the non-profit Susan G. Komen organization that finances projects for curing breast cancer and holds awareness campaigns.
As an additional step, an independent institute was requested to survey the knowledge of women aged 25-65 about breast cancer and early detection. The focus of this survey is on Brazil, Russia, India, China (BRIC states), the USA, Germany, Sweden and Austria. Siemens will inform the public about the results of the survey in the spring of 2011. In step with the information required from the women of these countries, Siemens will develop awareness and consultation material.
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About Siemens Healthcare
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source - from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 48,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2009 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 11.9 billion euros and profit of around 1.5 billion euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.