WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 15, 2009 – The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Advocacy Alliance today applauded the selection of Dr. Thomas Frieden to be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the New York City Health Commissioner, Dr. Frieden has dealt first-hand with the myriad of health care issues he’ll confront at CDC.
“Dr. Frieden’s career has been marked by a willingness to tackle the big health care issues and his determination for results,” said Hala Moddelmog, president of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “As the voice of the 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the U.S. today, we look forward to working with Dr. Frieden to increase our nation’s investment and oversight of the federal government’s cancer control programs including the critically important National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP).”
The Komen Advocacy Alliance noted that the NBCCEDP, the state/federal breast and cervical cancer screening program for underserved women, is vastly underfunded. Currently, it can only provide screening services for less than 1 in 5 eligible women. President Obama’s FY2010 budget proposal includes a slight increase for the program (up 0.23 percent, bringing the total to $206 million), but more is needed. The Komen Advocacy Alliance joins other patient advocate groups in requesting $250 million for the NBCCEDP in FY2010.
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Advocacy Alliance (KAA) is the nonpartisan voice for over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors and the people who love them. Our mission is to translate the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® promise to end breast cancer forever into action at all levels of government to discover and deliver the cures.
