Abu Dhabi Health Authority to hold educational symposium

The seminar will be for all Gynecologists, Pediatricians, Family Physicians and Vaccination Nurses on Sunday, 17th June from 8:00AM until 4:00PM, at the Health Authority's Auditorium.

The symposium is titled "Cervical Cancer Prevention and Beyond' and aims to educate attendees on the most recent updates in the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer - the second most common form of cancer affecting women in the UAE, typically in their mid-to-late thirties, when they often have young children.

"The AACME sessions we are offering are crucial for updating the skills and the knowledge base of the Primary Health Care (PHC) doctors in light of the substantial burden of the disease in our population, and recent advances in the prevention and diagnosis," says Dr. Oliver Harrison, Head of Public Health, Research and Core Programs, Health Authority - Abu Dhabi.

"Five local and one international speaker were selected because of their outstanding expertise in the field of cervical cancer, HPV and Immunology. Given the substantial recent advances in both the prevention and early diagnosis of cervical cancer; it is our duty both as doctors, and as the Abu Dhabi health authority to raise the awareness among physicians on the best available options for their patients."

Speakers from the symposium will include Dr, Saad Aswad, Associate Professor and Senior Consultant Gynecologist Oncologist and Dr. Shamsa Al Awar, Senior Consultant Gynecologist from Al Tawam Hospital; Prof. Basel Al Ramadi, Professor of Immunology from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UAE University; Dr. Stephanie Smith-Sham, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Consultant at Al Rahba Hospital; Dr. Gregg Sylvester, Senior Medical Director for the Policy, Public Health & Medical Affairs within Merck Vaccine Division; and Dr. David Saxton, Medical Director, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Al Corniche Hospital.

"In my opinion, the session on Sunday will fully encompass all the information, and updates a physician will need to know about this terrible disease," Said Dr. Shamsa Al Awara. "The overall age in which a woman dies due to cervical cancer is very young, 30 - 45 years old. Cervical cancer is a real risk that most women would rather not address or think about. In the UAE, most cases of cervical cancer are detected at a late stage, so it iss crucial for physicians to advise their patients on the importance of protection in terms of regular and consistent screening."