Pakistan Female Peacekeepers: Spreading Pink Ribbons in Blue Helmets as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

UNAMID photo.

UNAMID photo.

UNAMID photo.

UNAMID photo.

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12 Nov 2020

Pakistan Female Peacekeepers: Spreading Pink Ribbons in Blue Helmets as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Female peace keepers from Pakistan’s Field Hospital operating from the Mission’s Team Site in Kabkabiya, north Darfur, recently organized a Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign in the Locality to sensitize the host community on the symptoms and dangers of breast cancer, emphasizing on the criticality of early detection of the disease.  More than 95 women benefited from this campaign, including 4 female paramedical staff from Kabkabiya Hospital and one medical student.

 The Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign included practical demonstrations, focusing on early detection and its treatment, highlighting the importance of breast feeding to both child and mother and self-breast examination. On-the-spot screening for breast cancer was also conducted to facilitate early detection of the disease. Female paramedical staff at the local hospital were also trained on how to conduct breast cancer screening, mandatory for early diagnosis in high risk women. Pink ribbon leaflets were also distributed among participants.

 Speaking on behalf of the local community, a Medical student who also keenly participated in the activity, Ms Ibtiha affirmed the importance of such health  awareness campaigns that are beneficial to the community and will help reduce the stigma associated with the disease. “I promise that I will cascade the knowledge I have received from this awareness campaign to my female colleagues and mothers in our village,” Ms. Ibtiha added.

 Lieutenant-Colonel Hassan Jaffar, Commanding Officer, Pakistan Field Hospital-12, affirmed his intention to organize more free medical camps and such capacity building workshops in the future to improve health standards of the community, referring to the free medical clinic held recently in which 2688 patients, with various ailments, were treated at the Pakistan Field Hospital in Kabkabiya.