LAHORE: Availability of authentic data of cancer patients will facilitate better treatment facilities, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said at a meeting with Dr Umar Aftab, chief executive officer and founder of Pink Ribbon Pakistan.

She was apprised that in October, the Pink Ribbon campaign will be launched under her leadership.

The chief minister reviewed a proposal to build a breast cancer block in Pakistan’s first government-run Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital. She was informed that all staff in the breast cancer block will be female.

Ms Nawaz said lady health visitors (LHVs) will be trained to diagnose breast cancer. She was briefed that Lady Health Visitors across Punjab will be equipped to diagnose breast cancer.

The chief minister considered making mammogram test facilities mandatory for female staff in Punjab. She was informed that while the global average age for breast cancer diagnosis is 55 years, in Pakistan it is 35 years. She was also apprised that the Punjab Information Technology Board will be tasked with developing an app to ensure the availability of mammogram machines, says a handout.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2024