Pink Ribbon Campaign in collaboration with Government of Pakistan, National History and Literary Heritage Division and administration of Mazar-e-Quaid, sponsored by Gul Ahmed illuminated one of the most sanctified places in the country – The Mazar-e-Quaid pink in solidarity with 40,000 women who die each year due to Breast Cancer.
The initiative has been taken to draw attention to early detection of Breast Cancer and to show solidarity with patients and survivors of Breast Cancer in Pakistan.
Pink Ribbon Campaign celebrates the month of October as PINKtober to urge people to become a beacon of hope for women and families who have lost their loved ones. During this month, Pink Ribbon not only spread awareness among young girls and women through informational material, but also organize various events to sensitize women and girls at community level through direct interaction.
At the occasion, Chief Executive of Pink Ribbon Campaign, Omer Aftab thanked every individual and organizations for supporting the cause.
Speaking about the importance of Pink Illumination of one of the Pakistan’s most sacred places, he said, “This is a historic moment in our struggle of fighting against breast cancer in Pakistan. Through the illumination of this iconic structure, our message of saving lives from breast cancer will reach out to millions of Pakistanis across the country.”
Mr. Omer further added that Pink Ribbon is setting up Pakistan’s first dedicated Breast Cancer Hospital where state of the art treatment facilities will be provided to all poor Breast Cancer patients free of cost.
The issue of Breast Cancer still has cultural sensitivities attached with it and Pakistan has the highest rate of female breast cancer in whole of Asia, as 1 out of 9 Pakistani women is likely to suffer from breast cancer at some point in her life time. Approximately 90,000 cases of breast cancer are reported every year in Pakistan and about 40,000 women die from this deadly ailment. As per the ratio more than 9 million women are at high risk of becoming the victim of this disease sometimes in their life span.
Fortunately Breast Cancer is the only form of cancer which can be detected at early stage and early detection, increases survival chances up to 90%. However due to lack of awareness and medical facilities women are diagnosed at later stages of breast cancer, which becomes the prime reason of high mortality rate in Pakistan.
