Islamabad (GNP): Marking Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan joins the international community in addressing the serious health challenges women face, breast cancer in particular. In his message, he said awareness, early detection, timely treatment and continuing care matter deeply to any nation that values the health and lives of its women.
The Prime Minister said a comprehensive strategy has been prepared to promote early detection, ensure timely check-ups, give access to quality treatment and maintain continuity of care nationwide. The federal government, working with provincial governments and local institutions, is striving to make essential health services, including specialised cancer treatment, available across the country.
He said public awareness, a supportive environment and easy access to healthcare are vital so that women receive medical attention without delay. Women in rural and disadvantaged areas, where facilities are often scarce, deserve special attention. The government, he said, is firmly committed to ensuring that no Pakistani woman is denied timely, quality treatment because of where she lives or what she can afford.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to Lady Health Workers, whose tireless work in remote areas helps bring health services to women. They are being trained to teach women about breast self-examination, recognising symptoms and seeking medical advice and care promptly. Health staff at urban and rural primary healthcare centres are also receiving specialised training to improve early detection.
The Federal Breast Cancer Screening Centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) offers free screening, diagnostics and medicines, and refers suspected cases quickly for further evaluation and treatment. The government is also expanding access to screening through public health and social protection programmes, in partnership with private organisations, while working to improve coordination among health institutions and other stakeholders.
He described breast cancer as a devastating illness that can deeply affect the social and psychological well-being of patients and their families, and said a supportive, compassionate approach that considers patients’ needs must remain central to the national response.
The Prime Minister told the women of Pakistan that their health is a priority for the whole nation, and urged anyone with health concerns to seek medical advice without delay, noting that healthy mothers are the foundation of healthy families and a brighter future.
He called on families, communities, the media, religious leaders, educational institutions, civil society and medical professionals to help break the silence, overcome hesitation and stigma, and encourage women to get timely examinations and treatment.
Also read: First Pakistan Rice Festival held in Hungary
The message of awareness, he said, must reach every household so that women have the knowledge, confidence and courage to seek help without fear or concern about social attitudes. His government, he affirmed, will keep taking every possible step to protect women’s health and improve their access to timely, affordable and quality healthcare.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
