Princess opens new women’s clinic

April 14. 2009 8:30AM UAE / April 14. 2009 4:30AM GMT
DUBAI // A major gynaecology centre was opened yesterday as doctors said women were finally catching on to the need for cervical cancer screening and vaccination.

The Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre was officially opened by Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

There has been recent attention on cervical cancer after the British reality television star Jade Goody died of the disease aged 27.

Her death last month made headlines around the world.

Dr Awatif al Bahar, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the new centre, said at the opening ceremony: “Cervical cancer is increasing here but so is awareness at a social level.

“We have been doing repeated lectures for women, being very honest with them about this cancer. This has made more women come forward to screening and vaccinations.

“Things are definitely improving and we, as doctors, are always pushing women to take care of themselves.”

The clinic, which has relocated from near Rashid Hospital because of increased demand, is one of the leading centres in the Gulf for infertility treatments.

“We discuss what they should do if they are sexually active and encourage all women to be screened,” Dr al Bahar said. “Women here want a better quality of life. That does not mean having nice dresses and perfumes, it means being healthy.”

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women in the UAE and 70 per cent of cases are diagnosed in the late stages.

Vaccines against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes the cancer, have been approved by all health authorities in the Emirates and uptake has improved dramatically in recent years.

Dr Sabina Aidarous, a family medicine specialist at the Imperial Healthcare Institute in Dubai Healthcare City, said that over the past three years there had been an increase of up to 70 per cent in women having “well woman” check-ups, which include cervical cancer and breast cancer screening.

There had also been an increase of 20-30 per cent of women having the HPV vaccine since last year.

“Although women in general are becoming a lot more aware, there are still some who are less educated about what they need to do,” she said. “We hope in the future to reach a stage where vaccines against cervical cancer is routine.”

One of the main stumbling blocks in the region is the cancer’s connection to sexual activity.

Dr Aidarous said most people now realised that HPV was sexually transmitted, making it a “contentious issue in this part of the world”.

“It will take time and a lot of campaigning and awareness. But the situation is certainly getting better.

“Younger women are more clued up but it is the older generation who are less so. There are women in their 50s who have never had a smear test because they think they are low risk.”

She also explained that a common misconception about cervical cancer was that having just one monogamous relationship left little to no chance of developing it.

“Being married to one partner doesn’t mean you are exempt from this,” she said. “For a long time there was nobody who would talk about cervical cancer, but now this is totally changing.”

Dr Aidarous is set to launch a campaign with GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of the HPV vaccine Cervarix.

This campaign will be one of the a number to raise awareness of the disease, which the World Health Organisation estimates kills around 250,000 women a year worldwide.

In July, the Ministry of Health launched the Emirates Cervicare Network (ECN) to encourage women of all ages to go for an annual Pap smear test and young girls to be vaccinated against the virus.

Earlier this year the ECN and the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority organised a bus offering advice about cervical cancer to tour Dubai for two weeks.

Last week the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi said its HPV vaccination campaign for teenagers had seen a 70 per cent uptake in 2008. The programme will now be made permanent.

“If someone has an early marriage, maybe 17, 18 or 19 years old” Dr al Bahar said, “and does not come in for a women’s health check-up until they are 30, they have already been sexually active for a long time.

“Women are definitely learning, it will just take time.”

Cervical cancer is often referred to as a “silent killer”, as it grows slowly over many years and is largely without symptoms.

Without regular screening it may not be detected until the later stages. Official figures show women have a one in three chance of surviving.

Tawam Hospital in Al Ain is currently devising an executive health programme with an emphasis on preventative medicine.

Dr Halah Ibrahim, consultant in internal medicine, said one of the aims is to try and encourage women to overcome any reluctance they might have about health issues considered taboo. We have already been doing a lot of education in the community about the importance of screening. Cervical cancer is so common here there has to be a push to do more Pap smears.”