President Dr Arif Alvi has emphasized the need for creating public awareness on breast cancer. "In this regard, the media should play its role in spreading awareness among the people particularly among the women folk," the President expressed these views while addressing an event on 'National Brest Cancer Awareness Month' at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.

The ceremony was held in collaboration with the Aiwan-e-Sadr and the Ministry of National Health Services. The President said breaking the taboos; the disease should be discussed openly for early diagnosis. He said members of Parliament should also play their role in this regard. The President recommended a comprehensive community-based health education program to raise awareness about breast cancer. He said that that one woman dies every 15 minutes of the disease. He said that women in the country should be provided facilities including screening, sessions on self-examination along with the clinical examination and free screening mammography under one roof.

The President also appreciated Federal Breast Cancer Screening Center (FBCSC) at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for initiating free screening mammography that helped detection of a large number of breast cancer cases at early stages. Talking about population explosion, the President said population is another huge problem which Pakistan is facing but unfortunately there is no political discourse on the issue.

Speaking on the occasion, First Lady Samina Alvi said proper awareness is inevitable to control the breast cancer in the country. She said significant steps should be taken to control this menace in society. Samina Alvi said women are key players in development of the country and their health is equally important. She said late diagnosis is the major cause of deaths from breast cancer and through prevention and early detection it can be controlled.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019