UAE will see the return of the annual Pink Caravan initiative this October, coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Organized by Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), the initiative will provide free breast cancer screenings, mobile clinics, and programs emphasizing the importance of early detection.
Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy today, with over 685,000 global deaths recorded in 2020. Aisha Al Mulla, FOCP director, highlighted the essential role of corporates and companies in supporting health-related causes like breast cancer. “Their involvement not only showcases corporate responsibility but also boosts employee morale and contributes significantly to reducing breast cancer rates and associated medical costs,” Al Mulla was quoted as saying in a Gulf News report.
The Pink Caravan offers multiple avenues for corporate engagement:
- Mobile Clinic Reservations: Corporates can book mobile clinics that offer daily, cost-free breast and cervical cancer check-ups.
- Corporate Wellness Day: An opportunity for businesses to emphasize women’s health by scheduling mammogram screenings and early detection discussions for their female employees.
- Educational Sessions: Pink Caravan can host informational sessions for employees of all genders, complete with awareness pamphlets about self-examination. The Mini Mobile Clinic initiative also provides mammogram screenings.
Additionally, the FOCP encourages medical professionals in the UAE, including doctors, nurses, and medical students, to volunteer for Pink Caravan’s October campaign, emphasizing the critical role of volunteerism.
Supporters can also shop at the ‘Pink Shop’ by FOCP. Here, Pink Caravan-themed merchandise is available for purchase, symbolizing solidarity with breast cancer patients. All proceeds directly fund FOCP initiatives.