"Mubadala Healthcare": An integrated approach to the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer

Dubai, January 22 / WAM / Mubadala Healthcare “M42” facilities provide an integrated approach to the prevention, treatment and early detection of cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January of each year is an important opportunity to highlight the importance of examinations related to cervical cancer, which reflects the commitment of health institutions in the UAE, including Mubadala Healthcare – Dubai, to provide high-quality international care, in line with the UAE’s health vision aimed at developing curative and preventive services to preserve the health of members of society.

Dr. Samer Shuaib, Obstetrics and Gynecology Consultant at Mubadala Healthcare – Dubai, explained in a statement to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, today on this occasion that the therapeutic procedures and services provided by Mubadala to combat this disease include advanced diagnosis through the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET-CT) techniques to accurately determine the stages of the disease, and surgical intervention through advanced surgeries such as radical hysterectomy or cervical resection while preserving fertility in appropriate cases. Using robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and radiotherapy, Mubadala’s hospitals and health facilities provide the latest technologies for targeted radiotherapy to reduce damage to healthy tissues, in addition to chemotherapy and immunotherapy protocols, as well as palliative care and psychological support, with a focus on the patient’s quality of life during and after the treatment period.

He pointed to the advanced interventions implemented by Mubadala in the field of prevention and care for this disease, which include “Personalized Medicine,” which uses genetic analysis to determine the patient’s response to certain types of immunotherapy, and digital health records that rely on the use of big data to track patients and remind them of periodic examination appointments to ensure that relapses do not occur.

Dr. Shuaib pointed to the most important partnerships and initiatives implemented by Mubadala to enhance early screening and treatment for cervical cancer, including the partnership with the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi to support national programs for early screening and standardization of care, cooperation with Cleveland Clinic in the United States of America to exchange expertise and complex treatment protocols, and strengthen cooperation with the private sector with the aim of facilitating health insurance coverage and ensuring that patients have access to the best services without major financial obstacles.

He noted the awareness campaigns and health education programs implemented by Mubadala, which aim to enhance “health culture” among women, including periodic examination campaigns to encourage women to perform Pap smears regularly, and digital and field seminars, including organizing lectures at universities and workplaces to correct misconceptions about the disease, and educating medical personnel by training family doctors and general practitioners on how to communicate with patients about the importance of prevention.

He stressed the importance of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which is considered more than 90% effective in preventing the types of virus that cause the majority of cases of cervical cancer, noting that the age groups that are usually recommended for taking this vaccine range from the ages of 9 to 15 years, “which is the best age stage.” He explained that the vaccine can be taken until the age of 26, and in some cases until the age of 45 based on medical advice.

Regarding the risks related to the vaccine on fertility and women’s health in general, Dr. Shuaib explained that there is no scientific evidence indicating that the vaccine negatively affects fertility or the future health of women. On the contrary, protecting the uterus from cancer is a direct protection for a woman’s ability to have children in the future.

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month activities organized by Mubadala Healthcare this January included offering discounted Pap smear and HPV screening packages, lighting buildings and hospitals in white and turquoise, dedicated to the slogan of combating cervical cancer, and activating social media platforms with educational video clips in which specialized consultants appear to answer the public’s questions directly.

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