DHA launches breast cancer awareness campaign

The week-long campaign will be held across governmental institutions and malls in Dubai to educate women about the disease.

Al Murooshid said:

"Breast cancer remains to be one of the most common and dreaded diseases and one of the most important ways to combat this disease is through awareness about the need to conduct regular screenings. When people are not aware about a disease, they become susceptible and vulnerable. We want to empower people so that they can use the awareness they receive to regularity check themselves as early detection can save lives."

His Excellency said that the campaign is only the beginning and the DHA in partnership with the government and private sector is keen to organise many such awareness campaigns.

Dr Moza Al Hattawi, senior health officer and member of the breast diagnosis team at Rashid Hospital said, "It is a known fact that early detection can save lives and help reduce the number of women who succumb to this disease."

Al Hattawi said that out of the 200 breast operations conducted last year, 25% were due to breast cancer.

"This is a significant percentage. Previously women in their forties and above were affected with this disease; unfortunately over the past few years we are finding an increasing number of women in their early thirties who have this disease."

Al Hattawi said she that a few patients in their twenties have also been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Dr Zaid Al Mazam, consultant and head of the breast diagnosis unit at Rashid Hospital said, "In the light of these numbers and keeping in mind the need to educate more women in the UAE about breast cancer and the importance of regular breast screening, it is imperative that we reach out to them through such awareness initiatives."

Al Mazam said that awareness is a very important aspect to educate women about the important of self-examinations and yearly screenings and it is through campaigns such as this one that a wide audience base can be reached and educated about the disease.

Thus, in order to achieve this, the campaign will target various organisations such as the Dubai Police, Road and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai women's society and shopping malls.

Five doctors from the DHA along with volunteers and breast cancer survivors will visit these organisations and malls to educate women about the importance of self-examinations and getting mammograms done from time to time.

The team will provide women with brochures and leaflets about breast cancer.

The team will be in Dubai Festival City on the 9th of October and in Mall of the Emirates on the 10th of October.

Dr Hattawi who is also a coordinator for the DHA awareness programs said: "We are hoping to reach out to as many women as possible through this campaign."