ISLAMABAD: Seminars, awareness sessions and conferences were held to mark the World Cancer Day on Saturday.

During the events, the participants were informed about measures to avoid the disease and minimise its effects.

After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second biggest killer in the world and there were an estimated 8.2 million deaths from it in 2012.

In Pakistan, cancer is among the leading causes of non-communicable diseases that constituted 60pc of the total health burden.

On the other hand, smoking and the use of tobacco in different forms are the major risk factors behind the incidence of cancer.

During a seminar at the Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (Nori), Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said measures should be taken to prevent cancer and detect it at an early stage.

He said the prime minister had launched the national health programme under which those patients who cannot afford could get free treatment.

Member Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Dr S. M. Javed Akhtar said PAEC through its 18 cancer hospitals in all the four provinces was providing diagnostic and treatment facilities to the patients.

Secretary Ministry of National Health Services Ayub Sheikh said seminars should be held throughout the year to create awareness of cancer.

Director Nori Dr Mohammad Faheem said state-of-the-art medical and laboratory equipment were available in the hospital.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2017