‘Pakistan leads Asia in cancer inflictions’

PGMI principal highlights that LGH treats cancer patients free of cost

LAHORE:

Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Principal Dr Sardar Muhammad Al-freed Zafar on Thursday said Pakistan was the leading country in Asia in terms of the number of people suffering from cancer and therefore people must give up the sedentary lifestyle to live healthier and longer.

He expressed these views while addressing a special ceremony held in the Pediatrics Ward of the LGH on the occasion of the World Cancer Day.

Prof Al-freed Zafar further said that women giving birth to children before the age of 30 years and breastfeeding them over a long period reduce the risk of breast cancer in women.

He also highlighted that early diagnosis and treatment of cancer can wipe out the disease from the body completely.

It is worth mentioning that World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that by 2030, more than 30 million people worldwide will be diagnosed with cancer.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, “Lahore General Hospital (LGH) is a unique institution for treatment of cancer in children where all facilities are free of cost,” adding, “Pediatric eye cancer is also treated for free in this institute across the country.”

The ceremony was attended by children with cancer who had recovered from the LGH. Gifts were distributed among these children to recognize their struggle against the disease.

Professor Muhammad Shahid, Prof Agha Shabir Ali, Prof Muhammad Moin, Dr Aftab Anwar, Dr Sana Riaz, young doctors and parents of children were also present during the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid chaired the Cancer Surgery Conference at Shaikh Zayed Hospital wherein she congratulated those who defeated the potentially deadly disease.

She said the government was eager to serve those suffering from cancer and therefore a project is in the pipeline to establish a special hospital for cancer patients.

The minister pointed out that diagnostics and other services are provided for breast cancer at Mian Mir Hospital in Lahore.

“All 29.3 million families in Punjab shall be given Sehat Sahulat cards with a cost of Rs80 billion by December 2021,” she stated, adding, “We believe in collective welfare instead of individual gains.”

Sheikh Zayed Hospital Chairman Dr Mateen Izhar, Administrator Dr Akbar Hussain, Professor Haroon, Professor Javed Majeed were present during the conference whereas King Edward Medical University Vice Chancellor Professor Khalid Masood and others joined via video link.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2021.