PESHAWAR: Begum Samina Alvi, the First Lady of Pakistan, recently paid tribute to the Lady Health Workers (LHWs) at an awareness session about breast cancer held at the Basic Health Unit (BHU).
She expressed her gratitude to the LHWs for fighting against different diseases. She urged them to continue playing their role in creating awareness among the masses about breast cancer, which has become rampant in Asia.
Dr Mahipala Palitha, a representative for the World Health Organization (WHO) in Pakistan, was also present on occasion alongside other officials.
The First Lady said that breast cancer was an alarming issue affecting the lives of many females in the country, and there was a dire need for creating awareness about this severe disease.
She spoke about how she’s dedicated herself to this cause and has been going city to city to apprise people, especially women, about the seriousness of the disease. If awareness were created, people would take remedial measures, and a large population would be protected from becoming seriously ill, she lamented.
“Early diagnosis of breast cancer reduces chances of mortality, and in 97 per cent of cases, recovery is made, but if the disease diagnosis is delayed, then it has grave implications,” she warned.
The first lady also stressed the need for research to find out the reasons that caused this affliction.
She informed those in attendance that she focused on improving health facilities at government hospitals and equipping every health centre with necessary treatments.
“Every department should have to play its role in that regard as health was a crucial sector which needed special attention”, she continued.
“If a woman is healthy, the whole family will be in better condition. But if a mother is unwell, all will suffer,” said Begum Samina, clarifying that women played a vital role in nurturing children, ensuring their families are running smoothly by multitasking and hence, often ignoring their own health needs.
She said it was a matter of concern that the death rate due to breast cancer in Asia was 45 per cent higher than in other regions and the main reason behind it was lack of awareness among the people.
The first lady advised LHWs to educate women folk about a healthy diet, necessary exercises and better nutrition.
She also raised her voice for the differently-abled, stating that they also deserved the attention of the health workers and their relatives.
She requested WHO representatives in Pakistan to take measures and involve disabled persons in different social and vocational activities.
She said women should take benefit of different schemes of loans offered by different banks on easy terms. Through such schemes, they could stand on their feet and contribute to nation-building besides supporting family, Begum Samina advised.
Earlier, two lady health workers informed the first lady about the procedure adopted for informing women about symptoms of breast cancer and measures for keeping them safe.
Dr Mahipala appreciated the services rendered by the first lady for creating awareness about breast cancer in his speech.
He stated how breast cancer treatment was challenging and costly, and therefore, awareness about the disease was necessary for saving people from this physical and mental trauma. He also spoke about the work WHO had done to train LHWs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa about the information on serious diseases.
Later, the first lady visited different sections of the BHU and also distributed certificates among the LHWs.