Panel speakers and Zulekha Team pose for a photograph.

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Over the last nine years Zulekha Healthcare Group has been striving to raise awareness on the early detection and prevention of cervical cancer among women in the UAE, with regular screenings and vaccination.

When the campaign was first launched in 2014 it has proved highly effective with 282 women attending the free screening program and this had grown rapidly to 1,756 attendees taking up the screening during 2018. Over the last two to three years, number of screenings has fallen to a few hundreds due to the pandemic.

This year once again the campaign is open for two months starting 30 June 2022 with access to free screening at the hospital facilities in Dubai and Sharjah.

The campaign launch was done over a panel discussion in Dubai including insights from clinicians of the hospitals and trendsetters supporting the cause. Speaking on the panel were Ms. Tina Chagoury, Wellness Coach and Breast Cancer Survivor, Dr. Kranti Jadhav - Specialist Gynecology, Dr. Benish Khanzada - Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Krishi Gowdra - Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Soha Abdelbaky - Consultant Medical Oncology, Ms. Arathi Vijayan - Clinical Psychologist from Zulekha Hospital, Dr. Sharon Mendoza - Assistant Professor, Skyline University College, Sharjah and Ms. Chanda Lokendra, CEO and Founder LIZZOM.

Zulekha Hospital Co-chairperson, Zanubia Shams, said: “We are always keen to support the nation’s objective of better health for all and have been playing an important role over many years in cancer prevention in UAE.

No one deserves to die of cervical cancer as it can be caught and cured early. Let’s join hands and raise this awareness alongside vaccinating our younger boys and girls in time. We would like to see many women come forward to take up the free checks this year again and stay safe.”

Women in the UAE are at risk of developing cervical cancer and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 57 women have died due to cervical cancer in 2019 in the country. 3 in 10 women have been screened for cervical cancer over the previous five years.

Speaking of the vaccination cover among girls, 2 in 10 in the primary target cohort which is 13 years of age in 2020 has received their final HPV vaccination dose. WHO has set a cervical cancer elimination strategy target to have 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15 and 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by 35 years of age and again by 45 years of age.

The ‘Chance to Change’ campaign is supported by advocating partners the Dubai Health Authority, Friends of Cancer Patients, LIZZOM, and Dar Al Khaleej.

Eligible women can take the tests at the hospitals by appointments. To register for the screening, one can call 600524442 or visit zulekhahospitals.com/change

Data source: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/cervical-cancer-are-country-profile-2021

About Zulekha Healthcare Group: www.zulekhahospitals.com

Zulekha Healthcare Group is a Superbrand among the forerunners in UAE healthcare. Today the Group includes two multidisciplinary hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah, as well as UAE medical centers and pharmacies providing specialized services and treatments in over 30 disciplines.

The Group has a multidisciplinary Hospital in India - Alexis. Zulekha Hospital has received extensive recognition for its commitment towards quality care and sustainable business practices, and received the prestigious Dubai Quality Award as well, underling a commitment to providing high quality healthcare to patients and society.

Media Contacts:

Sameena Khanam – Deputy Director Brand & Corporate Communications
+971 6 5069254/+971 568813450 (skhanam@zulekhahospitals.com)