ISLAMABAD (MEDIA)
Mobilink has partnered with Pink Ribbon to mark October as ‘Pinktober – the Breast Cancer Awareness Month’. Pink Ribbon will be launching a nationwide awareness drive in October with the support of Mobilink and the Higher Education Commission (HEC), aiming to reach out to 100,000 young girls.
During ‘Pinktober 2012’, Mobilink will support Pink Ribbon by collecting donations through a SMS campaign as well as by educating customers using information material distributed through bill inserts, customer care centers and advertising. The campaign is being conducted under the umbrella of Mobilink Foundation, which is the only registered non-profit organization in Pakistan’s telecom sector.
October is celebrated worldwide as the month of Breast Cancer awareness, and Pink Ribbon Pakistan has taken the lead by raising public awareness into the causes of breast cancer and promoting the significance of early detection for better treatment and survival. During ‘Pinktober’, Pink Ribbon will sensitize girls and women by arranging various events and activities for direct interaction. In addition to medical camps for advice and clinical checkup, Pink Ribbon will also be arranging a free national screening program in collaboration with its partner hospitals.
Omer Aftab, CEO, Pink Ribbon Campaign Pakistan highlighted, “We appreciate the support extended by Mobilink and HEC, which is important for our ambition to extend our message across the nation. Pakistan has the highest rate of Breast Cancer in all of Asia, with the prevalence of this type being the highest (38.5%) amongst all the cancers in Pakistan. 1 out of 9 women in Pakistan are at the risk of breast cancer, which claims the lives of 40,000 women in the country every year.”
Omar Manzur, Head of Corporate Communications, Mobilink added, “Mobilink has been extending its support to Pink Ribbon since 2006 under the umbrella of Mobilink Foundation, and we will continue to raise awareness to help save the lives of the women of Pakistan. For Pinktober 2012, Mobilink is helping Pink Ribbon by collecting donations through SMS as well as educating customers and the public by sharing information through our various customer touch points.”
Sohail Naqvi, Executive Director HEC noted, “The Higher Education Commission has marked 2012 as ‘Pink Ribbon Youth Year’. Our target with Pink Ribbon Pakistan is to reach out to 500,000 youth through 500 colleges and universities. Till date, the program has already reached to over 130,000 girls through 47 colleges and universities in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.”
Rebekah Naomi Wigemark Co-Chair Pink Ribbon Campaign Pakistan added, “We have focused on a youth drive as breast cancer incidence is showing an alarming increase in young girls across Pakistan. Additionally, daughters would be able to easily communicate and influence their mothers for a regular breast self-examination and medical checkup.”