President launches month-long mass awareness drive on breast cancer

ISLAMABAD, Oct 7 (APP):President Dr Arif Alvi Monday launched month-long awareness drive on breast cancer calling for the concerted efforts to address the alarmingly increasing ratio of the cases particularly by ending the allied social taboos.

Held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the event was attended by First Lady Samina Alvi, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar, federal ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats and hundreds of women from cross sections of the society.

The president also pressed the button to illuminate the Presidency’s building with pink lights as part of the drive being supervised by Pink Ribbon Pakistan in collaboration with the partners.

This also coincided with the illumination of nine other buildings located at the Constitution Avenue including the Prime Minister Secretariat, Prime Minister House, Parliament House, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Wafaqi Mohtasib and Federal Board of Revenue.

The president said the increasing ratio of the breast cancer cases was a challenge for Pakistan.

He told the people that breastfeeding could remarkably reduce the risks of the breast cancer which could hit almost 12 million women of the country. Even the Holy Quran had also directed the women to breastfeed their children for two years as it was the most precious source of nutrition for the baby.

He said women were the major victim of the breast cancer. However, as part of the campaign, he said all the women should self examine their breasts once in a month and immediately consult the doctor if anyone detects any glandular swelling or tumor. If required, the woman concerned should also undergo mammography, he advised.