ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi has stressed the importance of collective action by both the public and private sectors to raise awareness about breast cancer, besides offering support to those affected by the disease.
He called upon media and other relevant stakeholders to unite in a breast cancer awareness campaign, especially during October, encouraging women to regularly conduct self-examinations and seek timely medical advice for early detection of this life-threatening ailment.
The President made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation from Siemens Healthineers in Pakistan. Siemens CEO, Mr. Khurram Jameel, and the First Lady, Begum Samina Alvi, attended the meeting virtually.
During the meeting, President Alvi emphasized the potential of digital technologies in addressing healthcare challenges, especially in increasing awareness, enhancing healthcare accessibility, improving the quality of care, and reducing costs. He highlighted the significance of early screenings, self-examinations, and improved medical services.
Furthermore, he underscored the pivotal role that private sector partners can play in raising awareness through media campaigns, standee displays in hospitals and public spaces, distribution of informational materials, and the organization of educational workshops and seminars in women’s educational institutions. He also advocated for the organization of breast cancer awareness events during October.
The President also commended the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom companies for initiating a call-caution tone from 1st October, following the Presidency’s advice, urging women to perform self-examinations and seek medical advice if they notice any unusual growth.
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President Alvi emphasized that spreading the message of self-examination for early breast cancer detection should not be considered taboo. He called on media outlets to broadcast messages regarding the importance of self-examination during their morning and talk shows, as well as in public service announcements, to increase awareness about the disease. He noted that increased awareness could lead to significant cost savings, considering the expenses associated with treating advanced stages of breast cancer.
During the meeting, the CEO of Siemens Healthineers pledged his company’s support for the breast cancer awareness campaign.
It was also highlighted during the meeting that Pakistan has one of the highest breast cancer mortality rates in Asia, with approximately 90,000 cases diagnosed annually. Early detection and proper treatment have the potential to save numerous lives, as over 90% of breast cancer cases can be successfully treated when detected at an early stage.
