Greenstar Social Marketing Pakistan Guarantee Limited, one of the largest private sector players for reproductive & family health services in Pakistan, under its broad-based initiative of promoting an ecosystem of self-care, is empowering women in Pakistan against breast cancer awareness for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
Globally, October is celebrated as the ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’, encouraging women to actively examine themselves every month, as early diagnosis is key to detect and cure Breast Cancer. Greenstar’s “Sirf 5-minute apne liye” campaign promotes self-examination and keeps a reminder to encourage women for screening. Greenstar has been working actively to educate young girls and women in communities across Pakistan with its nationwide network of 140,000 retail outlets, 35,000 pharmacies, 13,000 service providers, 4,500 community mobilisers called Sitara Bajis and Sattar Bhais and 5,500 hakeems and homeopaths. This massive campaign engaged students from colleges, universities, nursing schools and female intensive workforce from factories, wedding halls, beauty parlours, offices, etc. As an outcome, Greenstar has screened 118,864 women, trained 11,200 women and referred 7,000 women for advance diagnosis and treatment. With its exclusive 24/7 POOCHO Helpline 0800-11171, Greenstar has been creating massive awareness through robo calls, SMS, incoming calls and outgoing calls. Clients are guided with queries in complete privacy and confidentiality.
In pursuit of continuing its mission, Greenstar (Sabz Sitara) has set up screening clinics at Safoora Goth Container Clinic in Karachi and Sabz Sitara Family Health Center at Lahore in collaboration with its partners for initial screening of clients prone to any of the female related cancers (breast, ovarian, cervical). These clients will be referred to nearby referral points for advance screening and treatment. This is a pilot project that is aimed to scale up in near future in other cities.
Addressing the media during the press conference, Dr. Syed Azizur Rab, CEO Greenstar Social Marketing said, “It is a proud moment for Greenstar to establish clinics in two major cities: Karachi and Lahore for screening of female related cancers. We have come a long way after educating women in communities that early diagnosis can save lives. We have been extremely thankful to honorable Begum Mrs. Samina Arif Alvi for entrusting our network that has taken the message to every household across Pakistan. Greenstar will take its legacy forward and will educate every girl in Pakistan, empowering them to fight against breast cancer. This is a national cause and Greenstar under its self-care ecosystem will keep promoting preventive approach to reduce female mortality.”
