ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s First Lady Begum Samina Alvi has said that the ongoing breast cancer awareness campaign in Pakistan has significantly helped in reducing the number of cases being reported at the advanced stages (third and fourth stages) of the disease, adding that, however, still more efforts required to take the cases down further.
Addressing an event organized by Margalla Tennis Club here on Monday, the First Lady said that she felt pressure and became worried when observing a surge in first and second-stage patients seeking medical attention.
Samina Alvi further stated that the world overall had a 98 percent recovery rate from breast cancer; however, unfortunately, in Pakistan, lack of awareness and insufficient mammographic facilities led to a high mortality rate due to the detection of malignancy at a late stage.
The First Lady added that a huge number of 44,000 deaths due to breast cancer in the country was a tragic and alarming scenario that required raising constant awareness about early diagnosis of the problem.
Samina Alvi stressed the need for combined and collective efforts in floating awareness about breast cancer, particularly through healthy activities for having a constructive and healthy lifestyle.
She emphasized promoting awareness about mental health and well-being, as well as backing the rights of persons with disabilities to enable them to become integral and productive parts of society.
Samina Alvi categorically said that such topics and issues should be openly discussed throughout the year, whether it is breast cancer, the rights of differently-abled persons, or mental health, coupled with continued support from government institutions and society as a whole.
Women to Become Part of Awareness Campaign About Breast Cancer
The stress on girls and women to have a five-minute self-examination every month could make it easy to detect breast cancer at an early stage, which would help to save thousands of lives of women in Pakistan adding that the women and girls should come to take responsibility while spreading awareness among at least 10 other women folks in their circle.
The first lady also got a pledge from all the participants to spread awareness messages for the importance of mental health and the rights of persons with disabilities, adding that with regard to mental health, a mobile application “Humraaz” was being developed through with the people could seek guidance about their mental health.
She apprised the participants that about 24 percent of the total population was suffering from mental health issues against the limited number of related health professionals and psychiatrists that required increased.
It is worth mentioning here that according to the UN, in 2020, approximately 178,388 new breast cancer cases were registered in Pakistan. Mostly, myths and misconceptions contributed to the enhanced number of breast cancer cases in the country.
