Experts and public health campaigners at a discussion on Friday urged the government to introduce nationwide cancer screening programmes to reduce preventable deaths, particularly from breast cancer.
The Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum organised the discussion at the National Press Club in the capital and held a rally to observe the 13th Breast Cancer Awareness Day, said a press release.
Since 2013, October 10 has been observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Bangladesh, aiming at raising public awareness about early detection and timely treatment of the disease.
The campaign focuses on educating women about prevention, encouraging early diagnosis and promoting timely treatment to save lives.
The forum鈥檚 founder and chief coordinator, Professor Dr Habibullah Talukder Raskin, moderated the discussion, addressed by public health experts and activists.
Among the speakers were Dr Zakir Hossain, member of the Health Reform Commission and chairperson of the Community Clinic Trust; Professor Dr Mozaherul Huq, former regional adviser of the World Health Organisation; Professor Dr Syed Akram Hossain, chair of the Oncology Department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University; and Dr Halida Hanum Akhter, member of the Women鈥檚 Rights Reform Commission and faculty at Johns Hopkins University.
Professor Raskin explained this year鈥檚 theme of the day鈥斺�楰now and Act: Screening Saves Lives鈥�, he said that although awareness activities had continued for over two decades, many women still hesitated to seek screening or preventive services.
鈥業t鈥檚 time not just to know, but to act and come under screening coverage,鈥� he said.
Citing international estimates, Dr Raskin noted that around 13,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the country each year, and about 6,000 die from the disease.
The Gonoshasthaya Community-Based Cancer Hospital in Dhanmondi has also introduced a special initiative to provide breast cancer surgery and chemotherapy at minimal cost, including surgery for extremely poor patients for as little as Tk 5,000.
