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It is imperative to design and operate sustainable solid waste management (SWM) systems in cities based on the results of waste amount and characterization study (WACS). In this work, WACS was conducted and results were used to design an SWM system for an intermediate city of Pakistan. The study revealed that about 110 tons of solid waste per day is generated with a per capita rate of 0.337 kg/day. Around 51.2% of mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) is organic in nature and its non-scientific disposal is resulting in higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It was also found that more than 80% of valuables are taken away by the informal sector during the transfer of MSW from the generation source to the dumping site. Ultimate analyses showed that the moisture content (MC) and carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio were 64.23% and 51.14%, respectively. Proximate analysis revealed that moisture and calorific values were 57 % and 3505 BTU/lb., respectively. Based on these results, a material sorting facility (MSF) was proposed, with an estimated investment cost of US $3.64 million. However, the efficiency of the existing collection system is limited to 32 % only. In order to improve the collection efficiency (>90 %), an additional investment of US $1.638 million was estimated with an operations and maintenance (O&M) cost of US $19.25 per ton. Existing non-scientific MSW disposal practices contribute 32,079.61 CO2e tons/year of GHG emissions. The proposed MSF followed by composting is estimated to reduce GHG emissions by 38% to 19,722.38 CO2e tons/year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is a widespread and fatal disease that impacts millions of individuals globally. Pakistan has seen a notable rise in both incidence and mortality rates, ranking among the highest globally alongside the Solomon Islands. The WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) strives to decrease global mortality by 2.5% annually, emphasizing the need for awareness campaigns to educate women about the disease. Purpose: Tumor boards serve as essential interdisciplinary platforms for discussing intricate cancer cases. Nevertheless, Pakistan's health care system encounters obstacles in delivering oncology care due to limited resources. In response, the Tumor Boards Facilitation Forum (TEFF) was established to support tumor boards within the public sector.TEFF actively promotes cancer awareness and education during Pinktober through diverse initiatives. Among these is the Self-Breast Examination workshop for students, which educates them on self-examination techniques and the significance of prompt action in identifying breast cancer symptoms. Additionally, TEFF organizes yoga activities for health care professionals, advocating for holistic well-being. Collaborating with non-profit organizations like Shine Humanity, TEFF hosts awareness camps and coordinates a scarf donation drive for cancer survivors. Furthermore, TEFF arranges breast cancer awareness walks and encourages fundraising through charity events. Conclusion: In summary, breast cancer presents a significant challenge in Pakistan, necessitating immediate action through initiatives like GBCI and TEFF to raise awareness, enhance early detection, and provide comprehensive care. These efforts promote community engagement, foster connections among survivors, and empower individuals. By uniting our efforts, we can reduce the incidence of breast cancer, improve patient outcomes, and ensure comprehensive care for all affected individuals. This article aims to underscore the crucial role of tumor boards in Pakistan in enhancing awareness and education among women regarding breast cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.