Breast cancer awareness drive launched

Pink Ribbon Campaign (PRC), in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has launched breast cancer awareness drive in Lahore to reach out to 60,000 girls through 19 universities and colleges.
The objective of the drive is to create widespread awareness about breast cancer and its high incidence, severity leading to fatality, impact on the life of the sufferer and the family and also spreading the message that if detected early, the cancer can be cured. Awareness should be made through mass distribution of information material, public awareness seminars and free clinical examination camps.
The universities participating in this youth awareness drive in Lahore are; COMSATS, Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design, University of Central Punjab, Imperial College of Business, University of South Asia, Global Institute, Lahore College for Women University, University of Education, GC University, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Kinnaird College for women, Virtual University of Pakistan, Minhaj University, Punjab University, Hajvery University, University of Engineering Technology (UET), NCBA & E, Superior University, Lahore Leads University.
It may be noted that Pink Ribbon has marked 2012 as Youth Year with a target to reach out to 500,000 girls. Talking to media, Omer Aftab, National Co-ordinator of the Pink Ribbon said, it has more than 6,000 young volunteers, which are increasing day by day and this is due to their efforts for Breast Cancer awareness in Girls Colleges too.
He added the reason to target young girls is that the ratio of breast cancer is increasing rapidly in young girls in Pakistan which is quite alarming for Pakistani nation. He also said that Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer for any Asian population accounting to 40,000 deaths every year whereas the information available on breast cancer is very insignificant with only advanced cases of breast cancer being reported. It is important to focus on prevention rather than cure as breast cancer is the only cancer if diagnosed early; the survival rate is more than 90 per cent, he added.