Pink Caravan’s minivan provides health services in Ajman

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Pink Caravan (PC), the breast cancer awareness initiative of the UAE-based non-profit Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), has taken its medical minivan to the Mushairef Health Centre in Ajman, in a bid to boost their daily operations.

Medical professionals operating the van will assist with providing key health services including vaccinations for children and adults along with checkups to increase the health centre’s existing capacities to handle patients, particularly during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The mobile medical facility, which operates under the Ministry of Health and Prevention, was brought to the health centre in the month of May and will stay there as long as it is needed to serve the UAE community.

The move is an extension of Pink Carvan’s social responsibility practices.

The Pink Caravan's minivan outside the Mushairef Health Centre in Ajman. WAM

Ohoud Muhammad Bin Ahmad, Technical Director, Mushairef Health Centre, said: "We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Pink Caravan and FOCP for extending their valuable support to our centre. Their medical mini-van has enabled us to continue offering consistent, high-quality services to our community, especially child vaccinations.

"Their cooperation is reflective of the UAE’s unique solidarity model, which has resulted in timely and successful efforts to defend the nation against COVID-19. Moreover, the Ministry of Health and Prevention has set an example, continuing to deliver all scheduled vaccinations to children while ensuring highest safety standards to avoid any risk for children, parents, patients and medical staff,” she added.

Ahmad lauded the selfless efforts of the UAE’s first responders, saying their role in protecting their community by limiting the spread of COVID-19 has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Since its inception in 2011, the Pink Caravan has been actively engaged in highlighting the importance of early detection of breast cancer, and the repercussions of the disease on the UAE society and economy have been facing through workshops and discussions. Its continuous efforts played a crucial role in dispelling misconceptions related to breast cancer and offered support to patients and their families in need.

PCR offers free screenings to residents and citizens, including mammograms and ultrasound tests which cost approximately Dhs1,000 each.

At the end of its 10th-anniversary ride in March this year, Pink Caravan concluded its 10-day nation-wide ride with a record 11,077 free breast cancer screenings to 8,316 women and 2,761 men, carried out by 350 health professionals in more than 190 fixed and mobile clinics.