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Al Khail Gate community hosts Pink Caravan drive

The Pink Caravan Wellness campaign, an initiative of the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) – a pan-UAE cancer charity, was hosted at the Al Khail Gate community by the Ladies’ Wing of the Al Khail Gate Malayalee Association (Akgma) and Prime Healthcare Group.

Attendees of the free breast cancer awareness campaign with organisers at Al Khail Gate community in Al Quoz. — Supplied photo Olivia

Akgma Ladies’ Wing chairperson Praseetha Rajesh said as many as 215 women attended the full-day camp.

“(It) was aimed at raising awareness on the prevention and early detection and treatment of breast cancer, a leading cause of death among women. We are happy that we received women from various nationalities who have taken home the awareness message spread by the Pink Caravan’s campaign.”

The camp was held at the multi-purpose halls of two adjacent buildings in Al Khail Gate that were both decorated pink. The event began with the cutting of a pink cake in which the message ‘Wishing Every Woman the Pink of Her Health’ was written, next to the well-recognised pink ribbon symbol of breast cancer awareness.

Ameera BinKaram, president of the Board Of Trustees and a founding member of the FoCP, said: “The Pink Caravan’s Wellness campaign continues to move across locations throughout the UAE promoting breast cancer awareness and educational messages and it is able to be such a success due to the efforts and interest that the affiliated corporates have provided. We are so grateful to all of those who have attended this wellness session. Pink Caravan aims to turn each month Pink, not just for October.”

A video with details on breast cancer, the correct methods of self-examination, and stories of breast cancer survivors was screened at the venue, followed by an awareness lecture and a question-and-answer session. Doctors from FoCP and Prime Healthcare Group conducted clinical examinations of the camp attendees and referred those with risk factors, like family history of breast cancer and being older than 40, for a mammogram.

“We are thankful to the Prime Healthcare Group team who offered a 20 per cent discount for mammograms to all women who were referred for it. They also conducted blood pressure and glucose tests and checked the BMIs of all attendees. The doctors further gave away vouchers for free cholesterol checks and also offered free dental and gynaecology checkups,” said Prasobha Harikumar, vice-chairperson of the Akgma Ladies’ Wing.

Akgma President Rajeev Pillai lauded the efforts of the pink volunteers and Ladies’ Wing members who worked hard for the noble cause of protecting the health of the women of different nationalities in their neighbourhood community.

Akgma is is an affiliate of the Indian Community Welfare Committee under the patronage of the Indian Consulate in Dubai.

news@khaleejtimes.com