Nominate a deserving woman for a free mammogram

Dubai: Free mammograms will be offered this Friday, 22 October at Bur Juman mall, from 12-8pm. The mammograms will be designated for nominated people.

It is mandatory for women aged 40 and above to do a mammogram check every year. Normally this check-up can cost between Dh400 – Dh750.

Perhaps you could nominate your maid, driver’s wife, a neighbour, colleague or even a friend.

The Safe and Sound campaign at Burjuman is offering 2,000 free mammograms to those who may find it difficult to meet the costs of testing.

"What we have is a platform, where we can either support patient care... but definitely awareness is what we look at, because unless you educate people, these cases or delayed diagnoses will keep happening.

"The whole idea is to keep reminding people to please go in for the screenings, please attend check-ups and examine yourself every month," Sabina Khandwani, Head of PR and Marketing at Burjuman, told Gulf News.

The free mammogram camp at the shopping centre is for women who have been nominated by others, who are, "possibly unable to pay for the check-up themselves, because of their financial situations," Khandwani said.

The idea, she continued, "is to nominate somebody who's deserving — a nanny; somebody who works in your office; it could be your driver's wife; it could be anybody".

According to the marketing executive, 70 per cent of the mall's shoppers are women, which is why the majority of their customers are comfortable with the campaign.

Women aged 40 and above and who are residents of the UAE will qualify. Nomination forms can be downloaded via: www.safeandsound.ae. You should fill in the form with the details of the person you are nominating; explain the disclaimer in the form.

Attach a copy of her passport and valid UAE residency visa to the signed form, and take the completed form to Burjuman on Friday.

Vouchers will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis.

The camp will be located on the second floor, above the information desk. Online submissions will not be accepted.

You will be given two vouchers: a free mammogram voucher and free consultation with a gynaecologist. You will need to contact the hospital listed to book a mammogram appointment.

The gynaecologist voucher will only be valid if the mammogram result report indicates that further consultation with a doctor is required.