UAE Ministry of Health hosts ‘State-of-the-Art Radiographic Screening for Breast Cancer' workshop

UAE, December 15, 2015 - The UAE Ministry of Health has recently organized a workshop on ‘State-of-the-Art Radiographic Screening for Breast Cancer’ at the theater hall in the Ministry’s headquarters in Dubai in the presence of Dr. Kathleen Thomas, British expert on advisory treatment of cancer radiotherapy. Also participating in the conference were 60 doctors and technicians representing the Ministry of Health, Health Authority - Abu Dhabi, and Dubai Health Authority along with University Hospital Sharjah, Al Zahra Hospital, and Zulekha, Sharjah. The session was held within the framework of the ‘Itmenan’ campaign, with two of its initiatives - ‘National Periodic Health Screening’ and ‘Cancer Screening’ - approved by the Council of Ministers. The initiatives aim to raise community awareness about the importance of early detection of non-communicable diseases such as cancers and their risks. 

Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, Head of the Early Detection Initiative Team, opened the workshop and detailed the ‘Itmenan’ campaign along with the ‘National Periodic Health Screening’ and ‘Cancer Screening’ initiatives with a particular focus on breast cancer. She announced the opening of ‘Dadna Center’ in Fujairah and ‘Family Health Promotion Center’ in Sharjah and spoke about the extensive experience of the British expert, Dr. Kathleen Thomas.

Dr. Mona Seblgy, Program Coordinator - Early Detection of Breast Cancer, presented an overview of the program since its beginning in 1999, revealing that 76,000 cases of radial screening and 59,000 case of clinical screening have been performed with an infection rate of about 6 per thousand which is equivalent to global rates. 

She pointed to obesity as a factor that increases the risk of breast cancer by 45.9 per cent and rises to 54.6 per cent in obese women who have reached the menopausal age according to screening data for 2013-2014. 

On the other hand, Dr. Hessa Al Ghazal, Director - Maternal and Child Center in Sharjah, spoke about the implementation of the program in Sharjah with the emirate’s Family Health Promotion Center as the primary center for breast cancer screening. She noted that the center is equipped with digital radial devices and technical equipment necessary to take breast samples in addition to two ultrasound devices.

Dr. Kathleen elaborated that the state-of-the-art radiographic screening for breast cancer detects early changes in the breast, which is considered as one of cancer indicators. The test is supported by many radiological images as a sample, and best way to take samples from breast using mammography, and MRI in early screening for breast and the importance of its sensitivity in early age to dedicate early disease in women who have a family history of breast cancer are the most vulnerable to this disease, and monitoring performance quality control of program to avoid common mistakes.

Furthermore, she admired the professionalism of the Early Detection Initiative Team and commended the availability of advanced medical equipment in most health centers in the UAE. She said that significant attention from government officials in following up the results is noteworthy. Lastly, she was impressed with ‘Freej,’ the animated local folkloric character, in educating and encouraging women to conduct early screening for breast cancer.