First Lady stresses joint policy by OIC states on cancer control

ISTANBUL: First Lady Begum Mehmooda Hussain has urged upon the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries to adopt a joint policy to address the issue of cancer including its timely diagnosis and treatment.

In a special session First Ladies Leadership on Cancer Control held here on the sidelines of 13th OIC summit Begum Mehmooda said awareness should be raised about the prevention of cancer through media and holding of seminars.

The special session hosted by Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan was attended by the first ladies of OIC countries. The event was organized by Turkey’s presidency, OIC and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Program of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT).

Begum Mehmooda in her address said the worldwide mortality rate due to cancer was very high with majority belonging to poor and low income group. She mentioned that Pakistan being a developing country had also high number of cancer patients however she said the government of Pakistan was taking measures to control the disease. She said many big hospitals in the country were providing the facility of cancer treatment. For the facility of radiotherapy many atomic energy centres had been affiliated with the hospitals, she added.

Begum Mehmooda said the government had also started collecting the data of cancer patients for formulating a comprehensive policy. She mentioned that legislation had been made to discourage tobacco smoking. She said the women above 40 were more vulnerable to cancer which was a challenge for the mankind adding that women should not hesitate for checkups and treatment of the disease.