Male Mammographers in Abu Dhabi

Breast cancer is a serious thing - we jest you not. And so, mammography is an important thing that the ladies must go through on a timely basis. But the most recent problem in a culturally sensitive place like Abu Dhabi is that males are doing the mammography:

“I had asked for an appointment with a female technologist at a private hospital, but was told there would be a delay of a few months. Since I was worried and wanted to check that there was no risk from a cyst that had been diagnosed, I agreed to a male technician doing the screening. It was very, very difficult,” H.H. said.

When asked why she didn’t seek an appointment at another hospital, H.H. said she had tried to get a consultation elsewhere but couldn’t get any immediate appointments at the time.

Dr Jalaa Taher, head of cancer control and prevention at the HAAD, told Gulf News that cultural sensitivities in the UAE made the whole process extremely distressing for women, especially since mammograms require intensive assessments for over ten minutes.

Should men be allowed to perform mammograms? Yes. Should women have to be scanned by men? No. Is there a shortage of male mammographers in Abu Dhabi? Yes.

For the men, who continue to scan, please listen to this public service announcement:

Jezebel

Gulf News