PAKISTAN: Each year on October comes during Breast Cancer Awareness month, religion Islam teaches about prevention against any disease. Islam also supports the treatment methods advised by the health experts. He said Pakistan is a family oriented society and has inadequate health care system; health issues of our loved ones affects and hurts us everyone in the family, so we must encourage them to adopt healthy eating and active lifestyle.
Ambassador at Large for Global Peace & Human Rights and Chairman Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) Imam Allama Muhammad Ahsan Siddiqui said on Monday called for concerted efforts by the all sectarian religious scholars, interfaith religious leaders (Muslim Sikh Hindu, Parsi and Christian) leaders to prevent the prevalence of breast cancer in the country through creating massive awareness and breaking the taboos.
Addressing on the event held to create awareness for self-examination of breast cancer, the Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui said the disease could easily be diagnosed at an early stage by guiding the women to palpate their breasts. Breastfeeding in the light of Islamic preaching, examples from the childhood of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him), and verses from the Holy Quran. He said the Quran also talks about breastfeeding your children for two years. Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui had said that Allah Almighty commanded the mother to breast feed her child for two years and added that breastfeeding lowers breast cancer risk.
Chairman ICPH Imam Allama Muhammad Ahsan Siddiqui said it is still considered a taboo especially for the young girls to talk about breast cancer that affects every one of eight women in the society. He encouraged girls to talk to their parents about their health issues and immediately consult doctors if they find any unusual change in their body. He said a minor lump in the breast could prove fatal if ignored out of shame or negligence. He expressed the hope that with the increasing level of awareness about the deadly disease, many women could be protected from carrying this disease. All men and women are at risk of developing cancers, while the factors that put some of us at greater risk were family histories of cancer, non-healthy food and lazy lifestyle.
Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui viewed that the repeating of awareness messages made difference as had been experienced in case of the coronavirus, which had been successfully contained through joint efforts and cooperation by people as well as religious scholars. He said that the marginalized segment deserved special care and opportunities in all fields of life for their effective mainstreaming in society. The ratio of breast cancer in Pakistan is the highest in the region. He said the government would have to take emergency steps to stop the spread of the scourge. He suggested to the government to set up special desks and blocks at Tehsil levels for early diagnosis and initial treatment. He said a combination of administrative efficiency, allocation of resources and policy focus could help address this severe health challenge.
Ambassador Allama Ahsan Siddiqui said Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) However, the chairman again advised the people not to give up precautions as the virus could hit back hard as had been witnessed in some countries. He viewed that the breast feedings could not only lead to prevention of breast cancer as well as the stunting in babies. He said being a developing country, Pakistan would be unable to provide treatment to every cancer patient, and therefore, it was vital to take preventive measures to avert any bad scenario.
Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui said young ones especially girls are reluctant to speak to their parents about their health problems so there is a dire need of massive awareness campaigns on a large scale. He said the statistics on prevalence of the breast cancer in Pakistan were alarming and urged the all religious sectarian scholars, interfaith religious leaders Muslim Sikh Hindu, Parsi and Christian leaders and media to dedicate their energy and time to create awareness on the disease. He said contrary to around 98 percent survival rate, almost 50 percent breast cancer patients died in Pakistan just because of delayed diagnosis as the ailment was usually concealed owing to attached taboos.
Ambassador at Large for Global Peace & Human Rights Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui thanked to the President of Pakistan Mr. Dr. Arif Alvi, First Lady Mrs. Samina Arif Alvi, full supported and the part of the month-long awareness drive under the First Lady’s grate initiative, Government of Pakistan, provisional governments, UNICEF, WHO, civil society organizations, like Green Star, Pink Ribbon and Shaukat Khanum Hospital, another for supporting the initiative. He also lauded the civil society and philanthropic organizations for introducing free of charge mammography facility for the breast cancer patients. Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui said that the Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony ICPH and Albaraka Welfare Trust International had been extensively running free medical and awareness camps on the disease. Acknowledging the important role of women in society, He said the ICPH had taken several key initiatives to ensure their empowerment. He said to address the challenges pertaining to the wellbeing of women, the Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony ICPH and Albaraka Welfare Trust International would continue to extend them support on the health issues such as breast cancer.
Chairman ICPH Ambassador Allama Ahsan Siddiqui urged all faiths religious scholars, citizens, community leaders, social media users, bloggers and media for playing their role in creating awareness about breast cancer and its early detection. He said the Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony ICPH and Albaraka Welfare Trust International would continue to raise the campaign on breast awareness to save the precious lives of women. The idea is to celebrate Albaraka Trust continued mission to create a breast-cancer-free world. ABWTI has distributed educational materials and more than 5000 thousands pink ribbons in support and awareness of the breast cancer community. The event was attended by, women entrepreneurs, and the girl students of colleges and university.
