Abu Dhabi
The main initiative launched in Abu Dhabi is the “Early Detection is your Best Protection” campaign headed by Tawam Hospital with the support of the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD). The campaign runs the entire of month of October and includes events such as the third annual Fun Run/Walk at Al Tuwaya Park in Al Ain. Tawam is the UAE’s leading cancer hospital and doctors and staff will be participating in daily and weekly awareness activities. As breast cancer effects women and their families, these activities will target men, women and children. In speaking about the Awareness Campaign and its goals, Dr. Shamsa al Awar, chair of the Tawam Breast Cancer Awarness Campaign, stated “Breast cancer should not and will not be a taboo in our community...This is why our campaign targets and encourages every woman, man and child in our society to learn more about the disease and how to detect it.”
Dubai
Continuing the push for checkups and early diagnosis, Dubai’s private and public sectors are participating in several campaigns to raise residents’ awareness. In the private sector, Burjuman Mall is running their thirteenth annual “Safe and Sound Campaign”. The interior and exterior of the mall are decorated with pink banners and drapes to publicize their participation in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Burjuman’s Campaign is also targeting members of the entire family through their Pink Walkathon. All ages are encouraged to participate, and enjoy the food, arts and crafts, live music and other festivities available after the walk.
Another private sector event is the second annual Think Pink Bazaar and High Tea on the beach hosted by the Dubai Ladies Club. For more information, contact: eventsteam@dubailadiesclub.com.
In the public sector, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is taking several steps in promoting education, early detection and self-examination. Internally the DHA has mandated that all female employees attend an awareness lecture before February of 2010. The reason for the deadline’s extension past this October is due to the high number of female employees. While the lecture is mandatory, the free screenings beginning in March 2010 and commencing in August 2010 are optional. Outside of DHA headquarters, the Authority has teamed up with Dubai Women’s College to educated students on the facts of breast cancer and the importance of medical and self-examinations. Lastly, between October 4th and October 11th, volunteers, survivors and DHA doctors visited malls throughout Dubai to distribute educational brochures.
International Influence and Support
The UAE has reached out to a number of international associations including: Susan G. Komen, Johns Hopkins and the Cleveland Clinic. Most notably however is the partnership created in 2006 with the United States; instituted between then First Lady Laura Bush and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. Also teaming in this alliance is Vital Voices Global Partnership. Both Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Karen Hughes, then Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs with the US State Department, have visited Abu Dhabi and Dubai to speak about the initiative. The key to the partnership is the teaming of US and UAE medical experts, researchers, activists and businesses. Founding participants included GM, FedEx, GE, Microsoft, J&J, Dubai Holdings, Dubai World, EMAA, al Tayer Group, al Gurg Group and Burjuman Mall.
Signs of Change and the Continued Fight
It is clear that the initiatives undertaken over the past few years have had an effect. According to Zaid Al Siksek, CEO of HAAD, mammogram screenings have increased from sixteen percent in 2008 to sixty-nine percent in 2009. While this is indeed a cause for celebration, much more needs to be done if the mortality rates are to be reduced. Experts claim that if all women aged forty years and above performed medical and self-examinations, breast cancer rates would be reduced by thirty percent.
Dr. Patricia Snouzyk, Chair of the Ladies of Courage support group in Abu Dhabi advised women in the UAE to begin regular self-examinations early on in order to learn what is normal for them; assisting them in detecting a lump should one ever appear. She also advised women forty and above to have a mammogram every one to two years. Yet such steps should not be limited to women in this age bracket. Although they are globally the most effected, Breast Cancer diagnoses have befallen women in the UAE aged nineteen to thirty. If detected and treated early, women diagnosed with Breast Cancer have a 90% recovery rate.
References:
Mahdi, L. (26, September, 2009). October Dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness. Khaleej Times. Retrieved from http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=§ion=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2009/September/theuae_September508.xml
First Anniversary of the ‘Making it Our Business’ Breast Cancer Awareness Program. (15, October, 2008). Consulate General of the United States Dubai. Retrieved from Consulate General Events Archive 2008 http://dubai.usconsulate.gov/breast_cancer.html
Olarte. O (16, October, 2009). Documentary on Breast Cancer UAE’S Trendsetter. Khaleej Times. Retrieved from http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2009/October/theuae_October362.xml§ion=theuae&col=
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi participates in Breast Cancer Awareness Month from 05 October till 31 October 2008. (4 October, 2008). ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved from http://www.arabianbusiness.com/press_releases/detail/28559
The Dubai Health Authority And Dubai Women’s College Organize Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. (11 October 2009). Dubai City Guide. Retrieved from http://www.dubaicityguide.com/site/news/news-details.asp?newsid=26165
 |
