US Consul General in Dhahran Mike Hankey honors Fatima Al-Mulhem for her outstanding achievements in the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer in the Middle East and Africa. — Okaz photo Khaled Al-Balahdi Okaz/Saudi Gazette
AL-KHOBAR — There are about 90,000 Saudi male and female students currently studying in the United States, according to the US Consul General in Dhahran Mike Hankey. “This is a clear indication of Saudi Arabia's excellent education policy and its distinguished educational input,” he said. The consul lauded the high standard of Saudi universities and said general and university education in the Kingdom is of a high level. Hankey was speaking during a special function where the US Embassy honored Fatima Al-Mulhem for her outstanding achievements in the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer in the Middle East and Africa and named her one of the “Famous Women in Science in 2015”. “Al-Mulhem's winning of this international award is clear evidence of the high level the Kingdom has accomplished in the health field, the advancements of the country's medical cadres and its efforts in treatment and medical awareness,” he said. Al-Mulhem said the extensive support by the government for the health sector and health cadres has greatly contributed to the Kingdom's advancement in medicine. She said more than 10,000 women were examined for breast cancer in the Eastern Province as part of a drive to protect women against the disease. She said the Cancer Society in the Eastern Province has been working hard during the past six years for the early detection of breast cancer. Under the L'Oreal-UNESCO prize, five women, one each from a continent, are awarded a prize of 100,000 euros for excellence in science every year. A judging panel of 18 scientists selects the laureates every year. A total of 77 women have so far won the award, which was initiated in 1998.
