Saving lives

The grand opening ceremony today of the seventh annual Pink Caravan Ride in Sharjah. Reem Mohammed / The National

Awareness is important, but practical help is essential in tackling breast cancer

The seventh Pink Caravan came to an end on Friday after a 10-day trek across the emirates. The programme plays a major role in the battle against breast cancer, which is the third leading cause of death in Abu Dhabi.

The initiative by Friends of Cancer Patients should be applauded for succeeding in raising awareness of breast cancer in the community. People are now more comfortable talking about this vital health issue.

The Pink Caravan mobile clinic offered free breast cancer screenings for hundreds of people who have limited access to good medical facilities or health insurance, in places such as Dibba Al Hisn and Dibba Fujairah. The caravan staff also handed out vouchers for free mammograms, which could cost as much as Dh1,500. Practical assistance such as this augments the successful awareness campaigns. Even though the caravan has come to an end for now, we hope and expect that this initiative will continue to educate the community and save lives for many years to come.