Around 40,000 women die of breast cancer every year in Pakistan, while approximately 90,000 new cases are reported annually, highlighting the urgent need for public awareness and timely diagnosis, speakers said at a seminar held at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro.

The seminar was organised by the Department of Physiology in its auditorium and was presided over by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri (TI) . Breast cancer specialist Dr Aisha Masroor Bhatti attended as the guest speaker. Other distinguished guests included District Health Officer Jamshoro Dr Pir Manzoor Ahmed Chandio, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences Professor Dr Naheed Kaka, and Director of the Institute of Chemistry and Syndicate Member Dr Arfana Begum Mallah.

Addressing the seminar, the Vice Chancellor said breast cancer could be treated successfully if diagnosed promptly and at an early stage. He emphasised the importance of raising awareness and said teachers and students could play a significant role in educating the public. He urged people to share information with their families, relatives and neighbours, stressing that ignoring the disease could have serious consequences. Anyone experiencing symptoms should consult a qualified doctor without delay.

Professor Dr Marri said government hospitals provided the necessary facilities for diagnosis and treatment. He noted that early diagnosis could improve treatment outcomes and that many patients recovered completely with timely and appropriate care.

He added that cancer affected not only patients but also their families, often causing emotional and financial difficulties. Awareness and access to treatment were therefore essential to helping patients and their families cope with the disease.

The Vice Chancellor also highlighted the importance of the public health department in building a healthy society, saying that awareness programmes could help reduce the harmful effects of diseases. He stressed that access to clean drinking water and healthy food was essential for improving public health. He added that better results could be achieved if the money spent on hospitals were instead spent on providing clean water and nutritious food.

Speaking about polio,  Dr Marri said that almost all countries in the world had become polio-free, while Pakistan and Afghanistan continued to report cases. He identified a lack of public awareness about vaccination as one of the reasons for the continued spread of the disease and called for a joint campaign to eradicate it. He said polio could be eliminated from Pakistan if every newborn child received polio drops.

Guest speaker Dr Aisha Masroor Bhatti said that approximately 40,000 women died of breast cancer annually in Pakistan, while around 90,000 new cases emerged each year.

She observed that many patients sought medical attention at the last stage because of inadequate awareness and delays in diagnosis. She called for collective efforts to raise awareness and strengthen the fight against cancer.

District Health Officer Jamshoro Dr Pir Manzoor Ahmed Chandio said the public health sector was continuously working to raise awareness about disease prevention and treatment, adding that these efforts were producing positive results.

Dr Arfana Begum Mallah described the rising number of breast cancer cases as alarming and stressed the importance of public awareness and quality treatment. She said more seminars and awareness activities should be organised to educate people about the disease.

Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences Professor Dr Naheed Kaka also shared her views on the importance of awareness and timely action against breast cancer.

At the outset, Chairman of the Department of Physiology Dr Zulfiqar Ali Laghari welcomed the participants and outlined the objectives of the seminar.