Dubai: No one should battle cancer alone. It’s a disease the whole family and community should tackle and prevent together, members of the Dawoodi Bohra Community said.
The community organised the Amatullah Aai Cancer Awareness and Prevention Programme at Al Baraha Hospital on Thursday to educate around 1,000 members in Dubai the importance of taking a proactive stance against cancer as a community.
“There are directions from the head of the community to spread cancer awareness and have the screening done because many cases are coming towards him for directions, for prayers, among other things. So he’s looking at a community where this is progressing,” Kinana Bhai Saheb Jamaluddin, president of the Dawoodi Bohra Community in Dubai and the representative of Sultan Al Bohra in Dubai, told Gulf News.
The community does not have official figures as to how many among their group have cancer. But considering that cancer is becoming a top killer globally and one of the leading causes of death in the UAE, it’s better to be armed with information early than late, doctors at the campaign said.
The campaign included an exhibition-cum-seminar that taught attendees the different causes and types of cancer. Some 90 medical professionals from the Burhani First Aid, a group of Bohra doctors in the UAE, organised the campaign to deliver a one-to-one cancer preventive education. Screenings for various types of cancer such as oral and breast were also made available.
“We have arranged for the heavily subsidised screening programmes so the women can have the mammogram at a reduced rate. The community contributed towards it so cervical cancer screening, and HPV vaccination can be made,” Dr Sakina Poonawala, a gynaecologist who worked at Al Baraha Hospital for 22 years, said.
Dr Shabbir Kurawadwala said apart from lifestyle changes, the community has already made changes in their diet. The community kitchen, which feeds roughly 4,500 people, is already serving foods that are known to be cancer-preventing. There are 14,500 Bohras in Dubai, and 18,500 in Abu Dhabi. Sharjah, and Ajman.
Both men and women were invited to the campaign so they could understand cancer from its root cause down to its management. The men were particularly targeted since they are the heads of the family.
“It’s a weakness in any Asian woman — she never cares for herself. The priority is always the family — the husband and children. We called the men to draw their attention that if something is wrong with their wives, they should take them to the doctor right away,” Dr Shabbir Saiffudin, an eye specialist and community worker, said.
“Cancer is a problem that we cannot individually fight. It has to be a group effort — either a family, a group or a community. And sometimes, a family cannot do it alone. So as a community, we are one family. If something happens to one member, all of us are involved.”
