Dubai
This year’s Pink Caravan Ride has offered more than 3,500 free screenings and medical check-ups in just five days.
The Pink Caravan Medical Awareness Committee on Monday revealed that the popular community initiative by the Sharjah-based cancer charity, Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), has done tremendously well in the last seven years.
Now in its eighth year, the Pink Caravan continues to heighten the UAE community’s understanding about the importance of undergoing regular screenings for early detection of the disease, especially because the incidence of breast cancer in the UAE is quite high.
On Sunday, Umm Al Quwain was the fifth emirate in focus, where the Pink Caravan’s team of campaigners on horsebacks and numerous volunteers set off on a 9.7-kilometre equine journey.
The pink brigade started at the Shaikh Khalifa General Hospital and trotted along the streets of the emirate trying to sensitise people and get them to come forward and utilise the opportunity to get screened.
A total of 705 screenings were done in the emirate, including 630 women and 75 men. Some 154 were locals while 561 were expatriates. More than 216 people were in the 40+ age category and 509 individuals were below 40 years of age.
After the initial screenings, 499 walk-ins were given the safe card, 189 were referred for a mammogram, and 42 were advised to undergo an ultrasound.
Khaled Abdullah Al Shehhi, Director of Umm Al Quwain Hospital, along with a team of senior staff welcomed Reem Bin Karam, Head of the Pink Caravan’s Higher Organising Committee; Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Director-General of Friends of Cancer Patients and Head of Medical and Awareness Committee of Pink Caravan; volunteering equestrians and the rest of the PCR team to the hospital.
Al Shehhi praised the great role played by the Pink Caravan in raising awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection. He said: “The approach taken by the ride is fantastic as it has come a long way in dispelling misconceptions of the majority of people in society, and has encouraged them to overcome their fear and hesitation in taking that first step towards their well-being. Their provision of free examinations for all groups of society across the seven emirates has greatly benefited the citizens and residents of our society.”
During the ride, one of the volunteering riders, Shannon Naude, originally from South Africa, shared why she sacrifices her time and effort for the ride.
“Two of my aunts on both my mother’s and father’s side have suffered from breast cancer, and are both completely cancer-free now. I too have had cervical cancer, and we caught that because of an early screening. The diagnosis was thankfully not too bad and we were able to treat it very quickly.”
In Abu Dhabi today
Distance to cover for the ride: Almost 13 kilometres on horseback
Services provided: Free breast screenings from 10am to 6pm at Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Zayed University and Zayed Military Hospital. The fixed clinic in Al Seef Village Mall will be operational until 10pm.
How to help: Donations as low as Dh5 can be made to the Pink Caravan by sending an SMS to 2302 (Etisalat or du). Direct fund transfers can be made to Pink Caravan’s Sharjah Islamic Bank account. Their official website, Facebook account — ThePinkCaravan, or their mobile app — Pink Caravan, can also be used for making donations.
For more information: http://www.pinkcaravan.ae/events-listing.php.
