Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer in the whole of Asia. In order to launch a consolidated awareness campaign the Higher Education Commission will join hands with Pink Ribbon Pakistan to bring about creating awareness of the deadly disease as well as help early detection among female students of universities.
The HEC will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with Pink Ribbon and set up a task force. Pink Ribbon is a global charity organisation aimed to create global community to support breast cancer awareness. This was decided in a meeting held at HEC Secretariat between Dr Javaid R Laghari, Chairman HEC and Ms Fariba Shiraz Thomson, Chairperson Pink Ribbon, Dr Sohail Naqvi, Executive Director HEC, Omer Aftab, Country Co-ordinator Pink Ribbon, Dr Samina AminQadir, Vice Chancellor, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Dr Mohammad Latif, Director General, R&D, HEC, Dr Farzana Bari and Ms Noor Amna Malik, Director General Learning Innovation HEC.
HEC also plans to begin a research project on the prevalence of breast cancer in Pakistan by taking on board all major medical universities of the country. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Thomson said that we are looking for established institutions to work with that's why we have chosen HEC for this purpose. "We want to institutionalise this effort and make it long-term and sustainable."
Dr Laghari said that HEC has already run a successful programme on tobacco control. He nominated Dr Samina Amina Qadirto head the task force for launching pink ribbon campaign throughout the higher education sector. "Every university will be asked to nominate a focal point for co-ordination," he said. Dr Naqvi suggested to form a Breast Cancer Research Working Group to do research on the issue. He said that HEC could also set aside funds from our research programme.-PR
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