NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIP: I am a student of the University of Sindh, Jam­s­horo, and was selected for the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) need-based scholarship in 2019 for a four-year programme. The first instalment was due in December 2019, but was made available in March 2021. The remaining three instalments remain pending to date. The university’s financial assistance office says that it has not received the said funds. Due to flood and inflation, students have gone through a lot of distress and are taking loans to continue their studies. The HEC would do well to disburse the instalments so we may continue our studies.

Saddam Hussain Memon
Thatta

NO FEMALE DOCTOR: Dera Bugti district in Balochistan, which has been source of natural gas supply to the entire country for years, does not have a single female gynaecologist even though the local population is over 300,000. There have been many protests over the years in this regard, but no lady doctor has been posted to the area. Women continue to face problems and even die due to the non-availability of female gynaecologist in the area. The provincial government, particularly its health department, must take immediate notice of the matter.

Akhtar Bugti
Islamabad

BREAST CANCER: According to estimates, one out of every eight women in the country fall victim to breast cancer. The main reason for such an alarming prevalence is lack of awareness, especially in rural areas where people are deprived of medical facilities, and continue to carry out their lives in line with dated practices and perceptions. It is good to see that several national and international corporate brands have started organising awareness drives about breast cancer. Of special note are the many doctors with huge following on social media who are creating content on the topic. The government should also take measures so that more people may be educated about breast cancer.

Malaika Shahzad
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2023