Zulekha Hospital launches “Screen and Survive” free colorectal cancer screening campaign

•   The initiative successfully screened 1315 participants in Dubai and Sharjah detecting 16 positive results since it started in 2015
•  ‘Screen and Survive’ supports an element of the UAE Vision 2021 in which the country aims to be one of the world's best in providing quality and  sustainable healthcare services

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 13 March, 2018:   Zulekha Healthcare Group launched today its ‘Screen and Survive’ campaign in its third edition in the honourable presence of His Excellency Dr. Rashid Al Leem, Chairman of Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority. The campaign offers free screenings that are open to the public including residents and visitors from March 12th till April 30th 2018. The campaign aims to support the UAE’s national target of decreasing cancer fatalities by 18% by 2021. 

The initiative has successfully screened 745 participants so far at Zulekha Hospital Sharjah and 570 at Zulekha Hospital Dubai since it started in 2016, detecting 10 positive results in Zulekha Hospital Sharjah and six in Dubai. 30 year old Kalpesh was one among the survivors sharing their courageous stories of fighting cancer successfully. 

The launch was attended by the campaign’s ambassador, Dr Adil Daud, Professor, Oncology Director from the University of California, San Francisco, USA and Dr Robert S. Warren, Professor of Surgery, Chief of Surgical Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco. 

In attendance from Zulekha Healthcare Group were Dr Zulekha Daud, Chairperson; Zanubia Shams, Co-chairperson; Taher Shams, Managing Director and many other esteemed guests from Dubai Health Authority and the Ministry of Health and Prevention for the 2018 ‘Screen and Survive’ inauguration. 

Dr Adil Daud, Professor, Oncology Director from the University of California, the campaign ambassador, commented: “Zulekha Hospital has been a pioneer in spreading awareness on different diseases and causes aiming to improve the quality of life through good health. The death rates resulting from cancer are really alarming, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 8.8 million people died from cancer globally in 2015*.” 

The ‘Screen and Survive’ campaign aims to raise awareness about colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is the second most common cancer recorded in the UAE and the second highest cause of cancer death. Doctors advise men should get themselves screened for colon cancer at the age of 40 instead of the recommended 50 years of age in the West, since studies have shown that the cancer occurs at an earlier average age of 47 in the country. Health authorities generally recommend a colonoscopy every 10 years for people over the age of 40.

Zanubia Shams, Zulekha Hospital Co-chairperson, added: “The health and well-being of the society is our core focus. Zulekha Hospital has been successfully leading health awareness campaigns for the masses in UAE in line with the CSR objectives of the organization. We have seen tremendous response and great acceptance to our knowledge sharing initiatives in the country.”

‘Screen and Survive’ is led by Zulekha Hospital and supported by partners Ajman University, Musafir.com, Air Arabia, Snap Fitness, Bhima Jewellers, Cool & Cool, Club FM, Big FM 106.2, Zee TV, Zee Cinema, and &TV. The campaign aims to educate the masses on the symptoms, importance of early detection and vaccinations; and prevention.