Islamabad (Syed Javed Hassan Shah): A powerful message of hope and health awareness echoed through the Rawalpindi Arts Council as the Islamabad Founder Lions Club, in collaboration with Dr. Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital (ANTH), organized an engaging Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar aimed at empowering women through education and early detection.

The event was graced by Tahira Aurangzeb, Member National Assembly, as Chief Guest, alongside distinguished Guests of Honor including Yasir Akbar Niazi, Group CEO of GAK HealthCare International and ANTH; Shazia Rizwan, Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Punjab; Dr. Muhammad Arif Masood, District Governor Lions Clubs International; Muhammad Naveed Malik, Former President Islamabad Founder Lions Club; Malik Najeeb, President Islamabad Founder Lions Club; and Muhammad Faheem Khan, Zone Chairman Lions Clubs International.

The seminar was attended by over 350 female students along with women from different walks of life who actively participated in the awareness session. Participants were provided with breast self-screening guides, awareness materials, and pink ribbons, symbolizing solidarity with breast cancer fighters and survivors.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Dr. Munazzah Aziz, Assistant Professor of Surgical Oncology at ANTH, spoke in detail about the causes, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of breast cancer. She highlighted that early detection significantly improves survival rates and urged women to conduct regular self-examinations.

Speaking on the occasion, Yasir Niazi stressed the importance of community-driven awareness efforts, saying that early detection not only saves lives but also helps reduce the heavy burden of treatment on the healthcare system and government. He also said that youth is the hospital’s target for creating healthcare ambassadors for disease prevention. He thanked the Islamabad Founder Lions Club for organizing such a meaningful event and for inviting ANTH to be part of this noble cause.

Addressing the audience, the Chief Guest Tahira Aurangzeb lauded the initiative, emphasizing that awareness and education are the strongest shields against breast cancer. She appreciated the efforts of the organizers for reaching out to young women and spreading life-saving information in an accessible way.

In his vote of thanks, Muhammad Naveed Malik expressed his gratitude to Dr. Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital, the Chief Guest, and all Guests of Honor for their active participation and contributions toward the success of the seminar.

The Lions Club leadership reaffirmed their resolve to serve the community through health awareness and preventive initiatives, underscoring that collaboration between public and private sectors is key to winning the fight against breast cancer.

The event concluded on a positive note with an interactive Q&A session and distribution of souvenirs, reaffirming the collective mission to spread awareness, encourage early detection, and inspire a proactive approach toward women’s health.