LAHORE: (Dunya News) -- The Punjab government will establish Pakistan's first cancer registry (data bank).
This was decided during a meeting between Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz and Dr Umer Farooq, Chief Executive Officer of the Pink Ribbon Pakistan, on Friday.
Chief Secretary Punjab, Zahid Akhtar Zaman, and other officials were also present.
It was also decided that a training program for the lady health workers will be launched in the province enabling them to diagnose breast cancer. The issue of mandatory mammography tests facilities for the female staff of the province was also discussed.
Proposals for establishing a dedicated breast cancer block at the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital were also reviewed. Only the female staff will be deployed at this proposed block.
It was also decided that Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) will be tasked to develop an application pertaining to mammography machines.
The meeting participants were apprised that globally, cancer is affecting people around the age of 55. However, in Pakistan, the average age of cancer onset is 35.
The Pink Ribbon campaign will be launched in Punjab in October, with CM Maryam Nawaz taking the lead.