Zubair Qureshi
A large number of youth, members of civil society and general public participated in a hiking activity on the Trail 3 of the Mrgalla Hills marking the World Cancer Day organized by the Shifa Foundation, — a not for profit organization working for the alleviation of human suffering in different regions of Pakistan.
While addressing the participants, the Foundation’s Director Dr Khadeeja Azhar said each one of us must adopt a healthy lifestyle, ensure daily walk and play an effective role in spreading awareness, inspire change and reduce the global impact of cancer, which is the second leading cause of death globally.
Dr Khadeeja Azhar said the prime objective of the activity was to inculcate among the people to follow best health practices to protect themselves and their family members from this deadly disease. She suggested health tips to the participants and advised them to ensure walk in their daily life for physical and mental health.
Addressing the participants, Dr Zeeshan, Medical Director, Shifa International Hospital, said it was important to understand each type of cancer and how it impacts the body. He said that we should adopt a healthy lifestyle for a healthier and brighter world free of cancer.
Haroon Shah, Chief Operating Officer, Shifa Hospital, said that the aim to observe the World Cancer Day is to reduce misconceptions about cancer and to help people in getting the right information about it. He said that it also offers a chance to make an impact in the betterment of the life of cancer patients and survivors.
In another event, a talk organized by the Shifa International Hospital (SIH) to raise public awareness and access to early detection and diagnosis for preventing deaths due to the disease, experts said according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) data about Pakistan, 200,000 new cancer cases are being reported every year, out of which 40 to 50 percent of patients lose their lives because of late diagnosis and treatment.
Dr Asif Masood, Consultant Radiation Oncologist & Head of the Radiation Oncology Department at SIH said worldwide cancer was the third cause of death.
He said breast cancer was the most common form of cancer in Pakistan while 2nd common is a cancer of the head and neck while lung cancer is on 3rd number.
