Pink Caravan calls for Emirati medical professionals to join its annual ride
The annual Pink Caravan Ride, a pan-UAE breast cancer awareness initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients Society, FoCP, has called for Emirati physicians and nurses interested in joining the ride to register via its website, to contribute to national efforts aiming to dispel misconceptions related to breast cancer and enhance community awareness about its early detection, in preparation for its horseback trek on March 16th, Interested medical specialists can register online to be part of its voluntary medical team which will accompany the 2015 Pink Caravan Ride. The medical staff is needed in disciplines that include general medicine, family medicine and radiology, in addition to female x-ray technicians and nurses, particularly Emirati, to promote a culture of volunteerism in the UAE society and enable the initiative to achieve its desired goals.
Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Secretary General of FoCP and Head of the Pink Caravan’s Medial Committee, said, "Thanks to the immense efforts of the medical staff over the past years, the Pink Caravan provided free breast cancer screenings to nearly 29,000 women and men throughout the country’s seven Emirates. The experienced Emirati physicians, nurses and x-ray technicians have successfully assisted in dispelling fears and myths surrounding breast cancer, a disease that can be cured if diagnosed early." She said that the Pink Caravan is eagerly anticipating the annual participation of Emirati doctors and nurses on its annual ride to increase their experience in dealing with various cases and diagnosing symptoms with high efficiency, which would help increase cancer survival rates, while boosting the capabilities of the UAE medical sector.
The doctors, nurses and technicians accompanying the Pink Caravan Ride will offer medical screenings for early detection of breast cancer to thousands of women and men throughout the 10-day journey. They will also participate in presenting educational programmes and answer queries from community members about breast cancer, including how to detect it what steps to take.
The 2015 Pink Caravan Ride will kick off its journey in Sharjah on March 16th, passing through all seven Emirates, and wrap up the tour in Abu Dhabi on March 25th.
Since its inception in 2011, the Pink Caravan has been actively raising awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer, and highlighting the impact of the disease throughout the UAE. The Pink Caravan efforts have greatly contributed to dispelling misconceptions related to breast cancer, and provided indispensable financial and emotional support to patients and their families.
The initiative has also received immense support and great attention from regional and international organisations involved in the fight against cancer and spreading public awareness about its dangers.