SC glows pink as part of anti-breast cancer efforts

Islamabad: The Supreme Court building glowed pink overnight on Saturday as part of efforts to create public awareness of breast cancer in the country.

The event organised by the Pink Ribbon Pakistan was part of the World Cancer Day celebrations. According to the doctors, if breast cancer like any other diseases is diagnosed at an early stage, it can easily be cured. However, a lack of public awareness is causing its incidence to increase in the country.

As part of awareness campaign, major buildings are lit pink. After the Prime Minister's House, Centaurus Mall and Faisal Mosque in Islamabad during previous years, the Supreme Court has glowed pink this year to spread awareness of breast cancer.

According to Pink Ribbon CEO Omer Aftab, through the illumination of iconic structures, our message of saving lives from breast cancer will reach out to millions of people across the country.

He said the issue of breast cancer had cultural sensitivities attached with it but it needed to be effectively raised in the mainstream media. Talking about the illumination of the Supreme Court, he said it was a very significant and historical moment in the fight against breast cancer in Pakistan.

"Involving such a sanctified institution has provided hope to thousands of breast cancer patients in the country," he said thanking the Supreme Court chief justice for allowing the illumination of the building.

Omer Aftab said almost 10.2 million Pakistani women were at high risk of getting breast cancer and therefore, the issue should be taken seriously by everyone concerned.He also called for the re-establishment of the national health structure based on better researched statistics of disease burden and the launch of a special focused awareness campaign to promote the concept of 'prevention is better than cure'.