Abu Dhabi: Nearly 40,000 people have received free screening for breast cancer since 2011 due to the efforts of an annual UAE-wide awareness initiative, Pink Caravan.

The initiative, which is organised by charity organisation Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), concluded its sixth campaign in the capital on Wednesday, having screened nearly 5,000 residents in the past 10 days.

“We are able to offer about 5,000 free screenings over a short 10-day span each year. The purchase of our own mobile mammography van was also authorised at the start of this campaign, so imagine how many people we can reach if we operate throughout the year,” Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, director general of FoCP and head of the medical and awareness committee at Pink Caravan, told Gulf News.

Breast cancer is one of the most fatal cancers in the UAE, and the most prevalent cancer among women. In Abu Dhabi emirate, breast cancer accounts for about 31.7 per cent of all cancers diagnosed among women, and 16 per cent among all cancers in both genders.

In the UAE, a mammogram, which is recommended yearly for those aged 40 years and above, costs about Dh1,000 per person on average. These screening tests are often not covered by insurance providers, which can be a deterrent for many women who might simply put off getting the test that can help detect the fatal disease early, said Dr Al Madhi.

“This is why we hope to increase our reach and continue to offer free screenings throughout the year with the help of our mobile unit, which will be equipped with the latest technology and ready within the next seven months,” she added.

Dr Al Madhi also noted that male-dedicated screening clinics tended to be busy throughout the duration of the ride.

“This is heartening as it indicates that there is better awareness about breast cancer also potentially affecting men. In addition, we’ve seen that more and more of the people we diagnose with cancer are in the early stages, compared to six years ago when most diagnoses pertained to advanced cancers,” she said.

Like every other year, this year’s Pink Caravan ride saw 100 horseback riders take to UAE streets to spread awareness about breast cancer. Over 70 medical professionals worked to offer screenings and educate residents about the disease.

The campaign also teaches women who are 20 years of age or more to conduct self-examination, and recommends that they get a clinical breast exam done every year.

For the first time, this edition of the ride also included a stationary clinic at Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah.

Having started in Sharjah, the ride reached its end in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Its closing ceremony at Saadiyat Island was attended by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.

Pink Caravan is supported by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, founder and royal patron of the FoCP.