chatter matter
Recently, Ladiesfund, a steadfast advocate for women’s empowerment and health inclusivity, hosted the 6th Ladiesfund Breast Cancer Roundtable in partnership with Mrs Samina Alvi’s Breast Cancer Task Force and ‘M’ by Mahira Khan in Karachi.
Hosted by Tara Uzra Dawood, President of Ladiesfund, this impactful event brought together a distinguished audience of healthcare stakeholders, breast cancer survivors, doctors, women entrepreneurs and esteemed personalities to promote awareness and celebrate the resilience of survivors.
Guest of Honour Mrs Samina Alvi, Former First Lady of Pakistan and Chairperson of the Breast Cancer Task Force, lauded the initiative, stating, “Breast cancer is not just a women’s issue but a societal one. Events like these play a pivotal role in breaking stigmas, encouraging early detection and providing much-needed support to survivors.”
Chairperson Sima Kamil led the roundtable with a powerful message on the importance of early detection and community engagement. “I am heading the Ladiesfund Breast Cancer Endowment Fund. We have successfully raised PKR 9 million so far. We invite you all to contribute and support this important cause, so that a dedicated Women’s Centre can be established - helping women live healthier and longer lives through early detection and awareness about the causes of breast cancer,” elucidated Sima Kamil.
“It’s heartening to know that Ladiesfund is establishing a Women’s Cancer Centre where free services will be provided to women. Additionally, women who are cancer survivors will receive mental health support through dedicated support groups, where they can share their experiences and help one another overcome mental and emotional stress” enunciated Sarwar Peshimam, founder, MD, Shahi Enterprises.
The event featured inspiring stories from breast cancer survivors - Sima Kamil, Fauzia Maung Khuhro, Samina Aslam, Dr Faizullah Abbasi, Sara Bano, alongside distinguished guests from different fields. The stories shared by breast cancer survivors were deeply moving, with Dr Faizullah Abbasi courageously recounting his personal journey in a room full of women - an inspiring reminder of shared strength, compassion and the collective fight against cancer - and Saba Rehan speaking about her life falling apart when at age 29 she discovered she had breast cancer.
“I had the honour of drafting the white paper on medical legal reform with a focus on breast cancer on behalf of the Dawood Global Foundation and Ladiesfund. We spoke of different legal reforms required in the medical and judicial infrastructure of Pakistan, especially those that address breast cancer cases and during today’s session, we suggested a prospective bill focusing on how to rehabilitate patients, make screenings readily available and establish a tribunal to handle negligence cases,” highlighted lawyer, Sana Sharifuddin Pirzada.
“We are honoured as BankIslami to be a supporter of this event, especially as we offer free Breast Cancer Takaful embedded in our women-centric Mashal Savings Account,” expressed Ayesha Ashraf Jangda.
“Our organisation remains committed to advancing health inclusivity and empowering women through impactful initiatives, once again proving that collective action can lead to transformative change,” concluded Tara Uzra Dawood.
- You! desk
