The Medial Services Department of the Abu Dhabi Police encourages citizens and residents in the UAE to perform the required medical tests for the early detection of Colorectal cancers. The department explained that males and females ranging in age from 40-75 years must undergo a colonoscopy once every 10 years in addition to carrying out a blood-in-stool test once every two years.
The department, in cooperation with the community police, introduced visitors of the Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi to the causes of the disease, means of prevention, and the disease’s symptoms. Using a large replica of the colon, the team explained the disease’s stages and how to prevent it. They also played short films about the cancer that emphasized early detection, which can help in its cure.
Earlier, the Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, through the Medical Services Department and in cooperation with Health Authority-Abu Dhabi, launched a colorectal cancer prevention campaign. The campaign’s aim is to introduce citizens and residents to the causes of the disease, ways to prevent it, and its symptoms.
The Marina Mall’s visitors headed to where the replica was displayed by the Medical Services Department to learn more about the disease. They listened to the medical team who presented valuable advice to them about ways to protect against it.
Dr. Sameh Muhammad Fakhri, Gastroenterology Consultant at the Medical Services Department of Abu Dhabi Police and member of the Higher Committee for Colon Cancer Control, said that the campaign will continue until the end of this month across the Abu Dhabi Emirate. He noted that the campaign will include organizing awareness lectures, distributing brochures that explain the causes of the disease and how to prevent it, and introducing citizens and residents to the disease, in order to avoid its causes and stress the importance of regular medical checkups.
He mentioned that the campaign is important in increasing the community’s knowledge of the disease and stressed the importance of following the best preventive practices. He further noted that the participation of the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi is important in promoting the medical awareness activities that the Abu Dhabi Police is carrying out.
He explained that there would be further activities in the Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, the Ministry of Interior, the Family Development Foundation, and the Abu Dhabi Municipality. The awareness activities will include Al Ain and the Western Region; several lectures and awareness activities will be held in Al Bawadi Mall and in Al Ain Police.
Dr. Jala’ Taher, Chief of Cancer Control Section in Health Authority-Abu Dhabi said that colon and rectal cancer can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a proper body weight, exercising regularly, increasing consumption of vegetables and fruits, and smoking cessation. She advised individuals to perform early detection tests for the disease.
In his explanation about cancer, Dr. Sameh Muhammad Fakhri, Gastroenterologist Consultant at the Medical Services Department of Abu Dhabi Police and member of the Higher Committee for Colon Cancer Control, said that cancer is the third major cause of death in Abu Dhabi. He noted that colon cancer is a common type of cancer in the emirate and it comes in second place as the cause of death for men after lung cancer, and the second for women after breast cancer.
He said that early detection means monitoring any changes or tumors that may develop into cancer in healthy people who show no signs of illness. He added that early detection of colorectal cancer means looking for tumors that may lead to cancerous changes, and these tumors should be removed before they transform into cancer.