Pink Caravan provides free test to 454 women and men

The Pink Caravan’s annual, pan-UAE expedition on horseback accompanied by mobile clinics for breast cancer awareness and detection, completed a journey 32 km from Sharjah Equestrian Club to Al Dhaid last Saturday in the first day of the 10-day ride. The first day of the ride saw the Pink Caravan’s medical teams provide screenings to 454 men and women at Kalba Hospital and Al Maliha Medical Center. According to first days statistics, 356 women and 98 men received the medical tests, 239 of them were nationals and 215 expatriates. 169 women were referred to mammogram screening and 28 women and one man were referred to ultrasound examination. Commenting on the large turnout for screening, Ameera BinKaram, President of the Board of Trustees and a founding member of the Friends of Cancer Patients charitable organisation (FoCP), said: “We are delighted with the results of the first day of the 3rd Pink Caravan Ride and with the noticeable increase in the number of applicants. This is a proof of our success in dispelling myths about breast cancer and spreading awareness in the UAE community on the importance of regular check-up”. She added, “This year we are providing mammogram screenings inside the mobile clinics, solving a major challenge that we faced last year. We are now able to follow up on most tests and are looking forward to continuing our momentum in the upcoming days of the journey”. BinKaram said that more medical teams will be sent to clinics that show larger turnout, to ensure that tests are provided to more applicants. She clarified that the number of national applicants exceeded that of expatriates, according to statistics of the first day of the journey. On day two, Caravan’s well-equipped and trained medical teams provided breast cancer screenings to patients at both the Masafi and Al Dhaid Hospitals, as well as at Diba Al Fujairah Health Centre. Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, Secretary General for Friends of Cancer Patients charitable organisation (FoCP) and Head of the Pink Caravan’s Medical and Awareness committee, said, “Our medical teams, which have been handpicked by the medical committee from some of the best medical practitioners in the country, have been given certified training in collaboration with University Hospital Sharjah prior to this year’s ride commencing. With a target of conducting at least 5,000 quality screenings in the span of the ten day ride, we are looking to attract and inform more than 500 participants each day.” “The entire medical team of the Pink Caravan Ride is truly committed to the cause, proof in the fact that all the doctors and nurses have volunteered to be a part of its initiative. In reality, they are the biggest asset of the campaign, and are helping to change the course of medical history in the country. We are now very grateful to be able to say that we can see tangible results, with the number of people who could potentially be affected by cancer greatly reduced by the increased amount of clinical check-ups being scheduled and completed at hospitals and medical centres across the UAE”, she added. On the third day of the ride (Monday, February 4), the Caravan will start its journey from Fujairah to Khorfakan whereas the medical teams will be stationed at Khorfakan Hospital and Al Fujairah Hospital. On day four (Tuesday, February 5), the riders will be trekking to Ras Al Khaimah, whereas the medical teams will be available at Saqr Hospital. On Wednesday, February 6, the riders will trek from Umm Al Quwain to Ajman and the medical teams will be stationed at Umm Al Quwain Hospital and Khalifa Hospital. On the sixth day (Thursday, February 7) the caravan will travel from Ajman to Sharjah, with the clinics at Exhibition Grounds behind Carrefour Centre Ajman. On Friday, the clinics will be at Sharjah National Park. On Saturday, the Pink Caravan will be in Dubai until Sunday, February 10. The clinics will operate at Ousha Bint Hussain Cultural Centre and Dubai Police Clinic. The caravan will go on to Al Ain on Monday, where the clinics will be set up at Al Ain Municipality and Al Salamat Family Park. The Pink Caravan will culminate its journey in Abu Dhabi at Burjeel Hospital on Tuesday, February 12. One member of the medical staff, said, “Our participation in the Pink Caravan campaign is part of our belief that every member of the community must take part in spreading public awareness and achieving humanitarian objectives. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each one of us to give back to the country, in whichever way possible, for having contributed to making us who we are today.” The Pink Caravan’s ride, which began in Sharjah on 2nd of February, will culminate in Abu Dhabi on the 12thh of February. The Pink Caravan will have over 200 riders divided into teams of 20 riders each. The Pink Caravan’s ride aims to spread greater awareness about breast cancer, encourage regular tests, and raise funds to buy a 3D mammogram clinic which will provide free tests for citizens and expatriates in the country.