Al Ain, October 22: More women are becoming aware of the dangers of breast cancer in the UAE, according to figures released by a specialist cancer detection and treatment centre.
Over 1,100 women have been screened for breast cancer in mobile units so far this year. In 2008, the nine month figure was less than 200.
The campaign has been organised by Tawam Hospital and supported by the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD), and SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company.
The numbers have been released by Tawam Hospital in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine as part of the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign which will run throughout October as part of the global initiative.
“When we introduced our mobile mammogram van in June, the response was very encouraging. Over 100 women in UAE’s Western region came forward to be screened in just four days,” said Michael E. Heindel, CEO of Tawam Hospital.
“While this is a positive sign that indicates that women are becoming more proactive towards their health, it also demonstrates the importance of reaching out to the public.”
Dr Ghowaya Mohammed Al Neyadi, Family and Community Medicine Specialist and Coordinator for the mobile unit at Tawam Hospital said statistics indicated a momentous step forward on the road to breast cancer education and awareness.
“With the resources we have now and the increasing understanding that women in the UAE have about breast cancer, the figures are enormously encouraging,” the specialist said.
Dr Shamsa Al Awar, chairperson of Tawam Breast Cancer Awareness Committee said, “With the mobile unit, there are far more opportunities for women to be screened, but it is their attitude and perspective that has really made the difference. To have gone from 188 mobile screenings in nine months last year to 1,126 screenings so far this year is a great credit to the women who have come forward and to the medical workers and campaign supporters who have encouraged them.”
—Agencies