109 women die in 24 hours in Pakistan due to breast cancer

SMIU organised breast cancer awareness seminar

KARACHI, Oct 29, 2022 – Female health experts have said that 109 women die in 24 hours in Pakistan due to breast cancer, that is alarming situation prevailing in the country.

Therefore, entire nations specially media can play an effective role in spreading awareness among women about breast cancer.

Experts shared these views at the Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar organised by Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) in collaboration with the Pakistan Olympics Association (PAO) and Colgate Palmolive Pakistan at its auditorium.

Dr. Rufina Soomro, Head of Department of General Surgery, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi was the guest speaker and Dr. Shahnaz Memon, former Senior Medical Officer of Department of Health, Government of Sindh was the chief guest on the occasion. Representatives of POA, SMIU’s faculty and staff members and students attended the seminar in a large number.

Dr. Rufina Soomro said there are limited facilities for screening and early detection of breast cancer in big cities of Sindh, but other parts of province mainly its rural areas are completely deprived of such facilities. She said absolute majority of rural women of Sindh are not aware about this kind of threat to their lives. Thus, it is the role of educated population of Sindh to make aware to their female members about breast cancer.

She was of the view that print as well as electronic media can play a major role in spreading awareness among women, but in rural areas of Sindh, such information can be passed to women through radio transistor as it is still in usage there.

Speakers were of the view that some customs and ethical values of the land are too making hindrance in sharing information regarding breast cancer with women. Even male members of families didn’t pass such information to their women. They urged upon educated female and male members of the society to spray awareness about breast cancer among womenfolk of their respective areas.

Ms. Fatima Lakhani, Chairperson, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Women Sports Commission in her opening remarks talked on the health awareness and suggested that the female and girls must be aware about their health problems. Regular checkups can help in preventing them from breast cancer. Mr. Syed Waseem Hashmi, POA Member and an esteemed alumnus of SMIU presented vote of thanks. Seminar followed question-answer session.