ISLAMABAD: OCT 16 (DNA): Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani underscores importance of collective action for breast cancer awareness and mental health support.
Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has underlined the need for joint efforts to create awareness and educate masses about the breast cancer as the disease still continues to pose threat to women population of the country. He expressed his views while addressing a seminar on breast cancer awareness as Chief Guest, jointly organized by Maroof International Hospital and the Islamabad Marriott Hotel. The event aimed to promote early detection, education, and community engagement in the fight against breast cancer.
In his keynote address, Chairman Senate Gilani commended Maroof International Hospital and Islamabad Marriott Hotel for their collaborative efforts in raising awareness about breast cancer, stating that such partnerships between the public and private sectors were vital for advancing preventive healthcare and saving lives.
Highlighting the significance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Chairman Senate Gilani said that October is not merely a symbolic period marked by pink ribbons and public campaigns, but a time for renewed commitment and education about a disease that continues to claim too many lives.
He expressed concern over the growing prevalence of breast cancer among women in Pakistan and the challenges of delayed diagnosis due to social stigma and lack of awareness. “Behind every number is a mother, a sister, a daughter — someone whose dreams and potential are cut short by this devastating disease,” he remarked.
Chairman Senate Gilani stressed the need for integrating mental health support into cancer care, underscoring that psychological counselling and support groups must be accessible from diagnosis through recovery. “Healing the mind is as integral to healing the body,” he said.
He also apprised the medical community of the recent passage of the National Institutes of Health (Reorganisation) Amendment Act 2025, which mandates the establishment of a national cancer patient registry at the National Institute of Health. This initiative, he said, will provide vital data to help policymakers design evidence-based cancer prevention and control strategies nationwide.
“The Parliament stands ready to support all initiatives that promote women’s health, early cancer detection, and access to quality healthcare for all, regardless of background or income,” he affirmed.
Recalling his tenure as Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said he had consistently championed health awareness and access to care, recognizing that a nation’s progress rests upon the health and empowerment of its women. “When a woman remains untreated or unheard, it is not just a personal tragedy, it is a loss for society as a whole,” he emphasized.
Concluding his address, Chairman Senate Gilani paid tribute to the courage of those battling breast cancer and mental health challenges, urging collective compassion and commitment.
“Together, through awareness, empathy, and coordinated action, we can turn the tide against breast cancer and the stigma surrounding mental health,” he said.
The Chairman Senate encouraged the breast cancer survivor Aliya Agha and proposed that she should be declared good will ambassador for the pink ribbon and breast cancer awareness.
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