84% coverage rate of cervical vaccinations in schools last academic year

Family Medicine Consultant, Head of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Dr. Buthaina Abdullah, said that cervical vaccination has been included among the national vaccinations that are required to be obtained in the eighth grade school stage for the age group 13-14 years, as it is considered Vaccinations are one of the most important means of preventing diseases.

She added during the meeting of the partners of the Arab Alliance against Breast Cancer, which was organized by the Friends of Cancer Patients Association in a hotel in Sharjah, over two days, that the coverage rate for the targeted groups for the cervix has been increased by approximately 7%, where the coverage rate in 2020-2021 is equivalent to 78 %, and the coverage ratio for the year 2021-2022 is 84%.

She explained that breast cancer is one of the biggest challenges globally, regionally and locally, especially as it is the most common type of cancer diagnosed among the entire population, as it was the main cause of cancer death in 2017, according to the annual report of the country's National Registry of Cancer, with an average of "11.5%". 1 death per person per year, and 24.4% of cancer deaths among women.

She stated that the highest rate of breast cancer cases among Emirati females is between the age groups 45-49, and the lowest is in the 80-84 age group, while the highest rate of injuries among female residents is between the age groups 40-44, and the least number of cases were diagnosed in The age group is 20-24.

She explained that the Ministry of Health and Community Protection and health authorities in the country pay great attention to the breast cancer prevention program with the aim of reducing the death rate from infection and raising the quality of life, through 6 measures: forming a national committee to combat cancer and related risk factors, and updating the national plan to combat it. Cancer and its related risk factors, raising health awareness among members of society, focusing on the most vulnerable groups, cooperating with strategic partners to implement a package of initiatives to achieve the national plan for the prevention of cancer diseases in general and breast cancer in particular, which is the most common, activating and strengthening periodic examination and programs Early detection of breast cancer in the initial stages, in order to provide the necessary treatment and health care to patients, and to support research and studies related to cancer, especially breast cancer.

The Director-General of the Friends of Cancer Patients Association, Dr. Sawsan Al-Madhi, said that the biggest problem is the young age of cancer patients, noting that the association's personal experience with young patients in their thirties, and also at the age of 18.

She added, "In the UAE, we had 100% coverage of the Covid-19 vaccination, and the question is how we apply it with the same technology to early detection of breast cancer, so we must benefit from that pioneering experience to confront cancer."

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