Spreading the word: Tarakai urges students to raise awareness on breast cancer

Health minister says medical colleges should consult education department to organise drives at grass-roots level.

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Health Shahram Khan Tarakai has pressed students of medical colleges across the province to hold awareness sessions on breast cancer at educational institutions.

He was speaking at an awareness programme organised at Khyber Girls Medical College (KGMC) on Thursday. The suggestion was made in view of the high incidence of breast cancer in the province.

“Breast cancer is a serious issue and the government, doctors and other stakeholders need to raise awareness about the disease,” Tarakai said. According to the health minister, educational institutions can play an instrumental role in generating awareness about breast cancer.



“Medical colleges should consult the education department to ensure awareness drives are held at the grassroots level,” he added.

Tarakai insisted the provincial government was focusing on improving health and education sectors. He requested women at medical colleges to assist the process as there is an acute shortage of female doctors in hospitals across the province.

“While we have the finances, the absence of effective management is holding us back,” the minister said.

According to Tarakai, the health ministry has zero tolerance for those who are negligent about their duties. He warned them to perform their duties efficiently or else the government will take action against them.

During the session, students of various medical colleges across the province gave presentations on the causes of breast cancer and proposed a series of preventive measures against the disease.

Speaking to journalists after the session, Dr Rauf from the Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicines (IRNUM) said there are only 10 oncology specialists in K-P. Out of 5,100 patients suffering from cancer, IRNUM has treated 677 patients with breast cancer, he added. Nearly 33% of these cases were from the tribal areas.

Health woes

After the session, Tarakai spoke to journalists about the rising number of polio cases and the emerging threat of Ebola virus in Pakistan.

According to the health minister, it was previously impossible to travel through the tribal region for the purpose of vaccinating children against poliovirus. “Both the provincial and federal governments need to focus. In order to prevent further transmission, all provinces need to collaborate and take solid steps to eradicate polio.”

Tarakai insisted preparations were also under way to counter any possible spread of Ebola in K-P.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2014.