Pink Ribbon Campaign and Department of Social Welfare and Women Development Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and become strategic partners to jointly work on breast cancer control in the province.
Objective of collaboration is to develop and implement mutual strategies for control of the fatal disease. The two parties will also hold joint programmes about awareness and early diagnosis and detection of breast cancer. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pink Ribbon Omer Aftab and Secretary Women Development Syed Hidayat Jan signed the MoU. Provincial Minister for Women Development Dr Mehrtaj Rogani was also present at the occasion. Omer Aftab thanked the minister and the secretary for their support, and said that this collaboration will help Pink Ribbon expand its outreach at the community level.
Dr Mehar Taj Rogani assured her all possible support for Pink Ribbon. She said that it is extremely important to raise awareness at all levels about breast cancer as it is dangerously spreading even among young girls. Syed Hidayat Jan also extended his support, and mentioned that his department will provide complete administrative support for events, project and programmes jointly ventured with Pink Ribbon. Breast cancer claims more than 40,000 lives every year in Pakistan. One in every ninth woman in Pakistan is at high risk of breast cancer. Despite that Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer in Asia, there is lack of its medical facilities.