Ministry of Health cancer awareness seminar

The aim of the session titled "Screening for Female Health" took place this morning at Al Baraha Hospital to raise awareness of prevention and early detection of breast and cervical cancer - the two most common forms of cancer to affect women worldwide.

"The CME sessions conducted are crucial for updating the skills of the Primary Health Care (PHC) doctors;" says Dr. Mariam Matar, Assistant Undersecretary of Ministry of Health (MOH) "The Public Health and PHC sector is developing central CME programs which include lectures, workshop and research training. This program will enhance and improve the quality of PHC services across the UAE."

"This activity comes as part of the Ministry of Healths' ongoing efforts to update Primary Health Physicians on the latest oncological advances," says Dr. Muna Al Kawari, Project Director for Women's Health in Public & Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health.

"Breast and cervical cancer are the leading causes of death in women around the world. Through these sessions, our doctors will encourage women in the UAE to implement regular screenings to prevent and detect cancer before it's too late."

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide. As many as eight to nine percent of women will develop breast cancer at some point during their lifetime and more than 1.2 million women will develop it this year.
As with most diseases, fear and lack of knowledge are major contributors to delayed detection of breast cancer.

"The fact is that although breast cancer may be life threatening, research has shown that early detection significantly increases the chances of survival," explained Dr. Mona Sabelgi, Screening Coordinator, Central Ministry of Health Department, Abu Dhabi. "I urge for all women over the age of forty in the UAE to have a mammography test."

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and cause of death in women worldwide. In the UAE it is on the rise with reported cases tripling in 2005. Worldwide there are an estimated 650 deaths, which is the equivalent of 10 women in the Middle East dying every day.
"Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This virus is very common and easily transmitted, but thankfully not all females infected with HPV will have cervical cancer," says Dr. Saad Aswad, Consultant Gynaecologist Oncologist in Tawam Hospital, and Associate Professor of Gynaecology, at the UAE University.

"The virus once contracted, can survive for years and eventually converts some cells on the surface of the cervix into cancer cells. By killing the virus you eliminate the chance of contracting cervical cancer. Prevention of infection is imperative for all women; this can be done in two ways, regular pap screening tests and being vaccinated against it."

These seminars on early detection and prevention of cancer highlight the Ministry of Health's commitment to encouraging women in the UAE to having regular screenings.