Pink Caravan conducts AED24mn worth of cancer screenings

Sharjah / Emirates Business

The pan-UAE Pink Caravan Ride, dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness is embarking on its 7th journey across the emirates. Riding on horseback, stopping at the nation’s famous landmarks and parks, accompanied by physicians and nurses at mobile clinics, these humanitarian ambassadors are all unsung heroes. During the 10-day expedition, the Pink Caravan’s riders, volunteers and medical staff can be seen in every corner of the nation where they will extend the message of pink hope and press home the importance of early breast cancer detection.
The typical cost of breast cancer screening costs between AED 250 – AED 1,000, but the Pink Caravan’s examinations provide the opportunity and the means for the public to attend a session for free during its annual ride.
For the Pink Caravan, the value of providing the examinations – over the past six years, is AED 24 million worth of medical examinations, check-ups, mammograms and ultrasounds that has been provided to more than 41,000 people.
The ultimate aim is to raise awareness of breast cancer, but in order to achieve that goal there must also be an increased awareness of the Pink Caravan itself.
Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, Head of the Pink Caravan’s Medical and Awareness Committee, said: “In the six years since the Pink Caravan Ride set off on its very first journey, we have received tremendous support. Whether it has been emotional, practical or financial, people have been very generous, but we will always welcome new contributors and be forever grateful to those who can keep this momentum going.” Al Madhi added “The Pink Caravan is an initiative from the committee and to the committee.”
“The number of people we have screened and the number of minds we have put ease is phenomenal, but what many people don’t realise is that we have helped to make the difference between life and death while we are actually touring the emirates. Our medical experts have referred several people who have visited our clinics to oncologists, who in turn have potentially saved their lives. Those patients and their families have consistently attributed much of their recovery to the enduring support they were given by Friends of Cancer Patients, organisers of the Pink Caravan,” said Al Madhi.
In its first year, the Pink Caravan offered clinical examinations worth AED2.506 million to 10,024 people, while 6, 751 people benefited from free screenings worth AED1.688 million in 2012.
In its third year, a total of 6,102 women and men were examined at a cost of AED1.525 million, while in its fourth year, the Pink Caravan provided medical check-ups costing AED1.518 million to 6, 072 persons in 2014. Also, 7,383 men and women had benefited from screenings worth AED1.846 million in 2015. Last year, the Pink Caravan offered free clinical examinations valued at AED1.265 million to 5,059 people throughout the country.
The Pink Caravan provided mammograms to 3,454 people in 2011, 2,152 people in 2012, and 1,197 people in 2013. This number increased to 1,546 people in the Pink Caravan’s fourth year and rose again to 1,722 people in its fifth year, and finally to 1,665 in 2016, bringing the total number of mammograms to 11,736 people. At AED 1,000 for each mammogram, this alone accounts for nearly half of the six years’ expenditure.
In regards to ultrasounds, Pink Caravan has conducted 1,802 ultrasounds, with each screening costing AED1, 000. In 2011, some 386 people underwent ultrasound scanning, while 325 people had benefited from this free service in 2012, and 189 people benefited in the third year of the inception of the Pink Caravan. The number then rose to 286 people in 2014, while 176 people benefited from ultrasound screening in 2015, before the number rose dramatically to 440 persons last year.
The total value of all kinds of examinations and breast screenings provided by the Pink Caravan over its six years, the statistics show that clinical examinations are valued at AED10.348 million, while mammograms worth AED 11.736 million and ultrasounds totalled AED 1.8 million. This brings the total amount to AED24million worth of medical examinations and screenings offered by the Pink Caravan to 41, 391 people over the past six years.
Donations are open to everyone interested in supporting the Pink Caravan’s mission. As low as AED5 can be made by sending a Du SMS “Pink” to 2302, direct fund transfers can be made to Pink Caravan’s Sharjah Islamic Bank account number 0034-430430-003, IBAN AE10041000003443043.
The global online social platform ‘JustGiving’, or PC’s official website, their Facebook account – ThePinkCaravan, or their mobile app – Pink Caravan, can also be used for making donations.
Running from March 7-17, the Pink Caravan will spread a new pink hope throughout the country.
The Pink Caravan enjoys the generous support of UAE’s leadership and the royal patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. It is also launched with the support and guidance of his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Founder and Royal Patron of FoCP, International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC.
The itinerary of the 10-day horseback expedition includes the equine route, medical route, fundraising initiatives, and awareness events to continue its mission to promote breast cancer awareness, spread the importance of early detection and organise free screenings across the UAE, regardless of age, sex or nationality. The Pink Caravan’s Organising Committee believes that educating the public about the dangers of breast cancer is a national, community and humanitarian responsibility. Therefore, every organisation or individual must take part of this responsibility.
The Pink Caravan Ride 2016 saw a number of milestones, foremost of which is the inauguration of the mobile mammography clinic in collaboration with the University Hospital Sharjah, and the Institut Gustave Roussy, a leading cancer research facility in Europe. The state-of-the-art mobile mammography unit is being equipped with the latest technological devices and medical equipment to offer free breast cancer tests throughout the year and across the country’s various emirates and cities, including remote and low-populated areas. The AED15 million mammogram unit was announced in the Pink Caravan Ride 2015.