Breast cancer: Get your pink on
HEC, Pink Ribbon join hands to create awareness in varsities.
ISLAMABAD:
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and a non-government organisation have joined hands to create awareness about breast cancer in higher learning institutes. In this regard a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by HEC Executive Director Suhail Naqvi and Pink Ribbon Pakistan chairperson Fariba Shiraz Thomson during a seminar on Tuesday.
The two organisations will jointly initiate research projects on different aspects of breast cancer in Pakistan, besides holding continuing professional education seminars and workshops to highlight different aspects of the disease. HEC will disseminate awareness through all available communication channels.
“Over 1.5 million university students across the country can play an important role in spreading awareness about breast cancer,” said HEC chairperson Dr Javaid Leghari at a seminar at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
In a meeting held in August between Dr Leghari and Thomson this year, it was decided that HEC would make a task force for launching the Pink Ribbon campaign.
The FJWU Vice-Chancellor Dr Samina Amin Qadir was nominated as the focal person for the campaign. It was also decided that two focal persons would be nominated from universities in each province, who will work and coordinate with all the vice-chancellors and the steering committee of the Pink Ribbon Awareness Campaign.
At the seminar, Dr Leghari underlined the need for concerted efforts to fight the disease. “According to a recent report, 50 per cent of our population lives below the poverty line and in this scenario, the gravity of the situation requires more focused efforts to reach the grassroots level,” he said.
Dr Naqvi described breast cancer as a major social issue, which needs immediate measures. “We must realise that this problem is very close to our own homes and needs a concerted and consistent approach to be dealt with.”
We will use all possible resources for the success of the campaign and efforts will be made for conducting meaningful research in this area, he said.
Qadir said HEC has become a strategic partner of the Pink Ribbon Pakistan, for extending research and development, academic and technical support for breast cancer awareness through provision of its outreach, human resource and facilities.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2011.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and a non-government organisation have joined hands to create awareness about breast cancer in higher learning institutes. In this regard a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by HEC Executive Director Suhail Naqvi and Pink Ribbon Pakistan chairperson Fariba Shiraz Thomson during a seminar on Tuesday.
The two organisations will jointly initiate research projects on different aspects of breast cancer in Pakistan, besides holding continuing professional education seminars and workshops to highlight different aspects of the disease. HEC will disseminate awareness through all available communication channels.
“Over 1.5 million university students across the country can play an important role in spreading awareness about breast cancer,” said HEC chairperson Dr Javaid Leghari at a seminar at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
In a meeting held in August between Dr Leghari and Thomson this year, it was decided that HEC would make a task force for launching the Pink Ribbon campaign.
The FJWU Vice-Chancellor Dr Samina Amin Qadir was nominated as the focal person for the campaign. It was also decided that two focal persons would be nominated from universities in each province, who will work and coordinate with all the vice-chancellors and the steering committee of the Pink Ribbon Awareness Campaign.
At the seminar, Dr Leghari underlined the need for concerted efforts to fight the disease. “According to a recent report, 50 per cent of our population lives below the poverty line and in this scenario, the gravity of the situation requires more focused efforts to reach the grassroots level,” he said.
Dr Naqvi described breast cancer as a major social issue, which needs immediate measures. “We must realise that this problem is very close to our own homes and needs a concerted and consistent approach to be dealt with.”
We will use all possible resources for the success of the campaign and efforts will be made for conducting meaningful research in this area, he said.
Qadir said HEC has become a strategic partner of the Pink Ribbon Pakistan, for extending research and development, academic and technical support for breast cancer awareness through provision of its outreach, human resource and facilities.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2011.