Pink Caravan announces schedule for free medical screenings and services

Pink Caravan’s high steering committee announced that according to the new schedule, mobile medical clinics will operate for eight weeks instead of just two, providing free medical check-ups and breast cancer screening services to more UAE residents, and thereby enhancing the campaign’s outreach.

Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, Secretary General for Friends of Cancer Patients society (FoCP) and Head of the Pink Caravan’s Medical and Awareness committee, said, “We expect a very encouraging response to our free medical services, as we now have a better chance to introduce the Pink Caravan to a wider audience base before concluding the ride on 15 April.

“Timely and regular screenings is the best way to go as precaution is the best cure.. this is the message we seek to spread while encouraging both women and men to come in large numbers to avail our free medical services that are being made available at various locations around the UAE. Our theme for this year is ‘Dispelling Myths’ and our medical teams will spread awareness about commonly held misconceptions about breast cancer.” Dr Al Madhi added.

Mobile medical teams will provide services across the seven emirates. The campaign’s schedule for the period 15 February to 26 February has been announced as follows; It is to be noted that timings at each medical facility will be the same, i.e., from 9am-7pm every day.

On 15 February, medical services will be available at three locations in Sharjah; clinics for both women and men at Al Dhaid Hospital, where a mobile mammography unit will also be available, on the same day for women only at Al Qasimi Hospital and Al Madam Clinics in Sharjah

On 16 February, medical services will be available at three locations in Fujairah; for women only at Masafi Hospital , where services within the mobile van will also be available; on the same day clinics for women and clinics for men at Diba Al Fujairah Hospital ; and again, on the same day for women only at the Higher Colleges of Technology .

On 17th February, the medical team will be available to give services in Eastern Sharjah at Khorfakkan Hospital in clinics for women and clinics for men.

On the same day (17 February), Pink Caravan’s medical team will be available in Fujairah; - open to women only - at Al Badiah Health Center ; and on the same day services will be available in Sharjah for women only at Al Thamid Clinics .

On 18 February, Pink Caravan’s medical team will be available at two locations in Ras Al Khaimah; for women and men at Saqr Hospital , where services within the mobile van will also be available; and at Sha’am Hospital for women only .

The next day, on 19 February, the team’s services will be available in Umm Al Quwain for women only at Falaj Al Mulla Health Center , where services within the mobile van will also be available.

On the same day (19 February), Pink Caravan’s medical team will be available in Eastern Sharjah for women only at Diba Al Hisn Health Center .

On 20 February, Pink Caravan’s medical team will be available at two locations in Ajman; for women and men at Al Manama Health Center , where services within the mobile van will also be available; and Al Madina Medical Center for women only .

On the same day (20 February), Pink Caravan’s medical team will be available in Eastern Sharjah for women only at Kalba Hospital . Medical team services will continue to be available for women only at Kalba Hospital on the next day (21 February), along with services within the mobile van available on this day.

Medical teams will continue to provide services at Kalba Hospital, Eastern Sharjah, on February 21st whereas services will be available for both women and men at National Park in Sharjah; and for women only at Deerfields Town Square in Abu Dhabi.

On 22 February, the team’s medical services will be made available in Dubai for women only at Nad Al Hamar Health Center along with services within the mobile van.

Services on 23 February will be available in Dubai at two additional locations; for women and men at Al Baraha Hospital, where the mobile van will also be available; and at the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) for women only.

On 24 February, Pink Caravan’s medical team will be available in Al Ain for women only at Al Ain Hospital where services within the mobile van will also be available. Free screenings will also be available on the same day (24 February) in Dubai at HP Office, Internet City, for women and men.

25 February will see the team’s medical services be made available at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi for women only, where services within the mobile van will also be available.

On the same day (25 February), the team’s medical services will be made available at 2 other locations in the capital; for women only at Al Mafraq Hospital ; and again on the same day, for women only at Zayed Primary Health Care Center .

The Pink Caravan’s medical services team will finally be available on 26 February in Sharjah at Sharjah Punitive Reformatory Establishment for women only, where services within the mobile van will also be available.

This year, 12 new centres have been named to station Pink Caravan’s medical teams and offer free medical services during the course of the campaign.

Pink Caravan advocates amongst public and private medical bodies to make available and improve the standards of existing breast cancer screening and treatment within the UAE. The campaign has also been lobbying for the creation of the UAE’s national cancer registry. Pink Caravan is raising funds to purchase and operate a state-of-the-art mobile mammography unit to screen and service both women and men for breast cancer in the UAE community and ensure the sustainability and access to breast cancer early detection and screening programmes and patient support in the UAE community.