Dubai, UAE: 06 June, 2021 – Prognica Labs (www.prognica.com), a Dubai-based AI-powered health tech startup, today announced a free breast cancer screening and awareness campaign that will run until June 15, 2021, in collaboration with and support of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) and Zulekha Hospital (www.zulekhahospitals.com). The campaign aims to raise awareness of breast cancer within the Dubai Silicon Oasis community, through providing free screening and consultation along with interactive panel discussions, seminars and workshops featuring doctors, radiologists, survivors, and experts.

Khalid Shaikh, founder CEO of Prognica Labs says, “We are aiming to improve clinical outcomes in the fight against breast cancer and make the screening and diagnostics more accurate, affordable and accessible”. Prevention and early detection are central to our mission to help save and celebrate lives and lead the fight against breast cancer.”

“With research being a core focus at Prognica, we strive to accelerate cancer research tailored to local burdens and knowledge gaps needed for continuous improvement of public health in the UAE and the wider MENA region.” Khalid adds.

This campaign is in line with the World-Class Healthcare pillar of the UAE’s National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021, which emphasizes the importance of preventive medicine and seeks to reduce cancer.

The objectives of this campaign include raising public awareness, educating residents in UAE on the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer, providing guidance, identifying risks and preventive measures.

According to a statistic by Al Jalila Foundation, Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women with 1 in 8 women being diagnosed in their lifetime. On the bright side, though, 98 percent of breast cancer diagnoses can be treated if detected early. In the UAE, more than 75 percent of breast cancer patients seek medical advice after experiencing symptoms. Through its campaign, Prognica Labs aims to turn the tables and break myths around the subject – making it a norm to educate oneself on the matter.

Zanubia Shams, Co-Chairperson- Zulekha Hospital, said: “Although we are occupied and coping with the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on our lives, we cannot forget our non-COVID-19 health conditions that may project a higher risk for our bodies at a later stage. Saving people's life remains our core objective, and we will spare no effort in achieving it through such ongoing campaigns that promote early detection and prevention of diseases.”

For his part, Hans Christensen, Vice President at Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), said: “Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus is currently home to more than 900 startups from 72 countries, with more than 30 of them in the health technology field, and over 50 of the total number of startups utilizing artificial intelligence in their respective domain. We are confident in the power of AI – in business and in health – and strong supporters of promising startups and entrepreneurs within our community. Hence, our partnership with Prognica Labs on their campaign to reach a wider audience, especially since they focus on cancer – a disease that is a component of the UAE’s National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021.”

For national or regional cancer control programs, research is an essential component of planning, implementation, and monitoring the program’s effectiveness. In addition, research improves patient outcomes and creates national wealth through innovation.

“Research is the only way to understand breast cancer, how and why it progresses, and how it can ultimately be stopped.” Says Dr. Ibrahim Bani (MD, DTM&H, PhD), Associate Professor at Ajman University and Research Associate at Prognica Labs.