Dubai: Zulekha Hospital’s cervical cancer awareness campaign is drawing to a close on June 30 and women can still undergo free screening for the disease at all branches of the hospital and its medical centres in Dubai and Sharjah.
This year, the hospital has screened 1,237 women out of whom at least 12 agreed to receive vaccination against the disease.
Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix or mouth of the uterus grow out of control. The cancer is caused by the Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV). Women can prevent it to a large extent by being vaccinated or through regular screening and early detection ensures a good chance of total recovery. The disease can usually be detected at a very early stage through a Pap Smear test.
Dr Raja Lakshmi Srinivasan, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the hospital told Gulf News: “We have been conducting talks at schools, colleges and industrial areas to create awareness about cervical cancer, which can be prevented with three-course vaccination that is administered over a period of six months. For the next four days, women can come to the gynaecology department of any of our hospitals and get screening done. We are open throughout the day.
The incidence of cancer of the cervix in women in UAE is 9.9 per 100,000 of the population according to to a 2010 report published by the World Health Organisation on the Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV) and related cancers in the UAE. The report further states that every year about 48 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer out of which it is fatal in at least two cases. Early intervention, and greater awareness can prevent these fatalities, said Dr Srinivasan.
“The entire course of vaccination that includes three doses given at one month, second month and the sixth month gives the women a high chance of lifelong immunity against the virus that causes cervical cancer. The vaccination itself costs approximately Dh360 and even if these women who we screened prefer to get vaccinated at their local clinic, we are assured that the awareness has been created, these women have had their Pap Smear done and are likely to repeat it. Education and awareness is the main key of this campaign. We have had nine talks held so far and know that women have been told about preventive strategies, taking precautions and following safe methods to prevent cervical cancer,” she added.
Those women who still want to avail of the free-of-charge screening at Zulekha Hospital in the last four days of the campaign are urged to call the hospital’s toll-free number and take appointments for screening.
