I have asked several women during international breast cancer awareness month if they knew how to self-examine or whether they had had a mammogram screening. Very few of them answered positively. Some dismissed the idea altogether, saying that they were “too young” to worry about the risk of breast cancer.
These women are not outliers. A study published last month in the science journal Plos One found that there is a lack of knowledge about breast cancer and the importance of screening among women in the UAE. Only five per cent of those surveyed had a good general knowledge of the subject.
The survey found that almost half of women do not routinely check themselves. Why? Many of them have never been taught how to check for lumps and many of those who are aware of the correct procedures avoid checking their breasts for fear of what they might find.
Breast cancer is an issue that requires awareness and action. It is the leading type of cancer in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and accounts for 25 per cent of all cases, according to HAAD, the health authority of Abu Dhabi. Their statistics show that it is the second most common cause of death for women after cardiovascular disease.
This is why it is good to witness initiatives being led by the UAE health and education authorities and private establishments to highlight breast cancer awareness. They have begun to break the cultural taboo surrounding the issue, shedding light on it and fighting the stigma attached to the disease. Nowadays, screening services are available under health insurance and many facilities offer free checks.
However, like in other types of cancer, some people’s reluctance to get screened could result in late diagnosis. According to a report by the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, in most cases UAE patients delay presenting themselves for treatment, with the majority presenting themselves six months after first noticing a lump.
Fifty per cent of the women diagnosed with breast cancer are below the age of 46. And doctors say that incidence of breast cancer in women under 40 years of age has been increasing in recent years, which is worrying because younger women are less likely to have a sustained response to treatment.
But my discussions showed me that there is lack of perception of risk among younger people, especially if they haven’t encountered cancer within their family or among their group of friends. This can lead to a false sense of security, doctors say, that stops the disease being detected in its early stages.
The sad reality is that the majority of women do not adhere to recommended screening guidelines even though they attend breast cancer awareness events and participate in pink ribbon activities.
The problem is part of a wider health issue that we seem to have in the UAE: the lack of culture of disease prevention despite the improving standards of health care we have in this country. This can be highlighted by the fact that not enough attention is paid to health screenings in general, and particularly those for cancer.
Fostering a culture of prevention is important to correct the perception of susceptibility to such diseases, which in turn will have a positive impact on women’s screening behaviours and regular check-ups.
When it comes to breast cancer, all women over 20 should realise the risks, know how to undertake a self-examination properly and do so at least once a month. This would help reduce the risk of breast cancer through early detection.
There are also other important regular screenings highly recommended for women that don’t get the required attention, including screening for cervical cancer, which is the second-most-commonly diagnosed form of cancer among women in this country.
We need a more comprehensive strategy to change the mindset when it comes to dealing with health issues. We need to focus on promoting the understanding of disease prevention and anticipating personal risks. Otherwise, all these efforts to “spread awareness” could have limited impact.
aalmazrouei@thenational.ae
Twitter: @AyeshaAlmazroui
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
