A seminar and on-campus walk held here at the Government College University Lahore on Monday, in connection with Pinktober 2020 to raise awareness among female students and faculty members about the breast cancer.
Speakers at the seminar laid stress to eliminate social stigmas attached to breast cancer and other female diseases, saying girls in Pakistan even feel shy talking to their parents about their basic health issues.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Asghar Zaidi and senior faculty members along with their family members attended the seminar.
Speaking on the occasion, the founder of Pink Ribbon Pakistan, Omer Aftab, laid stress on prevention, saying that according to latest studies, 40 percent cases of the breast cancer were preventable by adopting active lifestyle, healthy eating and positive thinking. “Not only physical, but your mental health is also important to prevent yourself from different diseases,” he added.
However, Omer Aftab believed that there was a long way to go as just 50 kilometers from Lahore there were no health facilities and awareness among women about their basic health issues.
District Health Education Officer Ms. Tahira Mariam briefed the students about the risk factors and methods of self-examination, saying if detected at an early stage, the chance of surviving increases by up to 90 per cent.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi said it’s very unfortunate that social and cultural taboos were still attached to different female health issues, which made it more difficult for girls to talk about them. He added that GCU would regularly organize health awareness seminars for students and staff members to encourage them to adopt healthy eating and active lifestyle and inform them about precautions, symptoms and treatments of different disease
Sehr Chawala, an eminent motivational speaker, also addressed the seminar and encouraged the female students to speak up about their rights and health issues.
