Winners of PINKtober Youth Awareness Programme announced

BREAST CANCER

Islamabad

The Pink Ribbon in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission held a ceremony here to announce the winners of the PINKtober Youth Awareness Programme.

HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad was the chief guest of the ceremony, where advisor to the HEC Learning Innovation Division Shaheen Khan and HEC executive director Dr Arshad Ali and Pink Ribbon chief executive officer Omer Aftab were also in attendance.

According to Omer Aftab, since October is known as the Month of Breast Cancer Awareness all over the world, Pink Ribbon Pakistan celebrates the entire month as PINKtober followed by an extensive youth awareness programme.

The focus of the Youth Programme is to spread early detection that increases more than 90% chances of survival.  The Awards for PINKtober Youth Awareness Programme are a sign of recognition to all the universities, which have shown their best performance in spreading the message of breast cancer awareness.

The National Textile University secured first position in the category of universities and Islamabad Model College for Girls (PG), F-7/2 first in the category of colleges, while the National College of Arts Lahore and Lahore School of Economics mutually clinched second position.

The Government College University, Faisalabad secured third position in the category of universities and Government Postgraduate College for Women, DG Khan third in the category of colleges, whereas the Volunteer of the Year (University) Award went to the National Textile University, Faisalabad and the same award in colleges category secured by Islamabad Model College for Girls (PG), F-7/2.

Moreover, special awards were given away to Sindh Madressatul Islam University and Real Life Story Award to the Government MB & GF Girls Arts and Commerce College, Hyderabad.

The University of South Asia, Govt. College University Lahore, University of Haripur

Ghazi University, Govt. Degree College, Dargai-Malakand, Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering & Information Technology, University of Education Bank Road Campus, Lahore, Riphah International University, Institute of Business Management, Karachi, University of Turbat, Kinnaird College for Women University, Islamia College, Quetta, University of Education Township, Lahore, Govt. Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur were recognised for their maximum support to PINKtober Campaign.

The Pink Ribbon CEO said the HEC had been working with the Pink Ribbon since 2012.

"Pink Ribbon would have not be able to approach hundreds of universities without the sincere efforts and support of the Higher Education Commission. In collaboration with the HEC, the Pink Ribbon is empowering young girls with the knowledge and techniques to detect breast cancer at early stage as the breast cancer is registering an alarming increase in young girls of Pakistan," he said.

Omer Aftab said the incidence of breast cancer was increasing among young girls in Pakistan and that awareness was the only way to survival.

"We need to prepare our generation to be health conscious so they can have a better future," he said.

The Pink Ribbon CEO said his organisation had successfully started the construction of Pakistan’s first dedicated breast cancer hospital.

"The construction of this hospital is expected to be completed within two years. This hospital will provide best available facilities to the poorest of the poor patients free of charge," he said.

HEC Chairman said the HEC was hopeful that this programme will keep benefiting the society. "A continuous programme can save thousands of lives," he said.  Dr Mukhtar said the HEC would continue to serve as a bridge between Pink Ribbon and higher education institutions for increasing awareness of breast cancer among youths.

Shaheen Khan applauded the efforts of the Pink Ribbon in creating awareness of breast cancer among youths.