Karachi: Breast cancer, cervical and ovarian cancer remain leading cause of mortality among women in Pakistan. Increasing burden of women’s cancers was discussed with Sindh Health Minister Azra Pechuho during launch of Roche and Greenstar pilot project aiming to design, develop and demonstrate scalable service delivery models that improve access to screening, early detection and treatment of women’s cancer. Project is starting from Karachi and Lahore will target women of different age groups and stages of patient journey, by providing door-to-door awareness, free of cost screening and guidance for timely referral options by trained doctors at Greenstar clinics.

Azra Pechuho formally launching project said, “We are proud of Roche and Greenstar collaboration for raising awareness, early detection facilities and timely treatment of breast, cervical and ovarian cancer for women from underserved areas of Safoorah Goth.” Hafsa Shamsie Managing Director of Roche Pharma said, “We aspire to provide innovative healthcare and play transformative role in all stages of female cancers, from initial screening through support during treatment that paves way for addressing unmet needs of women cancer patients.”  Dr. Syed Azizur Rab CEO Greenstar Social Marketing said, “Pakistan has highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia, with 25,000 cases in 2020 and mortality rate of above 50 percent.  Cervical cancer is second most common cancer in women. Each year, around 5,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, with 3,197 reported deaths and mortality rate of above 63 percent.

Similarly, 4,500 Pakistani women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer with mortality rate of 70 percent.  Initiative aims to align stakeholders to increase awareness about these ailments and importance of early detection and availability of affordable treatment. Dr. Talib Lashari Technical Advisor Sindh Population Welfare Department also present.  Meanwhile, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Dr Ahmed Al Mahdhari Regional Director EMRO World Health Organisation and Dr Palitha Mahipala WHO representative and Head of Mission Pakistan inaugurated first 15 bedded Nutrition Stabilisation Centre of Karachi at Sindh Government Hospital Lyari with support of WHO Pakistan.  Nutrition Stabilisation Centre will be supporting Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) children from Sindh, Baluchistan and Iran. In addition to SAM treatment, NSC have Early Childhood Development component and lactation management unit.  WHO is supporting in establishment of 15 new NSCs and renovation/refurbishment of 16 existing NSCs including Human Resource, supplies and equipment to support malnutrition in Sindh.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 30 2022

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