An on-campus "Pink Ribbon Youth Awareness" drive was held here on Thursday at the Government College University (GCU) Lahore, to raise awareness among the university female students and staff members about the breast cancer and eliminate social stigmas attached to this disease which if detected early can be cured.
"About 9.8 million women in Pakistan are at the risk of breast cancer, but unfortunately there is not much awareness in our society about this dreadful disease," said GCU Lahore Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) Director Ms Iram Sohail while addressing the opening ceremony of the awareness drive.
"It is still considered a taboo in most parts of our society to talk about this cancer which affects every one of nine women in the society. Even, girls are reluctant to talking to their mothers about such diseases, that is why there is dire need of such awareness campaigns on a massive scale," said Iram Sohail.
The daylong awareness drive was organized by the GCU-QEC in collaboration with the Pink Ribbon Pakistan. It included an art festival which was followed by an awareness walk led by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Hassan Amir Shah, Director Facilities Yousaf Bashir and Iram Sohail from the University's Clock Tower to the Girls Cafeteria.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Professor Hassan Shah said that GCU's mission is to empower its students, especially female students, with the knowledge about their health issues and techniques to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle. He said that this cancer was every close to every family in Pakistan, so they all must actively participate in such awareness drives, and spread this message to every home in the country. He asked the students to act as volunteers in their families and educate their relatives about this dreadful disease.
About 20 posters, made by GCU students from Department of Fine Arts, were also put on display outside the office of the VC to sensitize the students to support Pink Ribbon awareness drive for saving thousands of women dying from the breast cancer every year in Pakistan.