President Dr Arif Alvi has called for making collaborative efforts by the public and private sector to create awareness about breast cancer.

He was talking to a delegation from Siemens Healthineers, which called on him in Islamabad on Thursday.

The President said media and other relevant stakeholders should also join hands in the breast cancer awareness campaign.

He said the media should also encourage women to engage in regular self-examinations and seek timely medical guidance for the early diagnosis of this life-threatening ailment.

The Chief Executive Officer of Siemens, Khurram Jameel, and the First Lady Begum Samina Alvi attended the meeting virtually.

During the meeting, the President underlined the pivotal role that private sector partners could play in raising awareness through media campaigns, standee displays in hospitals and public areas, distribution of pamphlets, and organizing educational workshops and seminars in women’s educational institutions.

Dr Arif Alvi also called for organizing breast cancer awareness events during October.

He commended the role of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom companies, which initiated a call-caution tone from 1st October on the advice of Presidency

On the occasion, the CEO of Siemens Healthineers pledged his company’s support for the breast cancer campaign in Pakistan.