Bangladesh

Cancer causes three times more deaths than Covid in Bangladesh: Health Minister Covid-Cancer
Collected Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque is speaking on the occasion

Cancer causes three times more deaths than Covid in Bangladesh: Health Minister

Bangladesh Live News | @banglalivenews | 02 Nov 2022, 10:53 pm

Dhaka, November 2: Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said that the cancer treatment system in Bangladesh has not yet improved. He said this in an event at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Wednesday (November 2).

Cervical-oral and breast cancer screening program information and results were released at the event.

Referring to the government's initiative to set up cancer centers in eight divisions, the health minister said, "If cancer is detected at an early stage, there is a 100 percent cure rate for this disease. We are trying to provide that treatment in eight divisional cancer centers. We have decided to have one in every medical college hospital. And will gradually provide mammography machines to every district."

Zahid Maleque said that three times more people died of cancer than corona in the past year, "About 13,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Among them, about 7,000 die. Eight thousand women are diagnosed with cervical cancer of which 5,000 die."

The health minister said that more than 100,000 people die of cancer in Bangladesh every year, "One and a half lakh people are newly diagnosed with cancer every year. There are 15-18 lakh cancer patients in Bangladesh. The number of cancer patients in the last year is three times more than the number of deaths due to corona in three years."

He said, "570 centers have been set up for cancer screening through which primary screening is done. Besides, 43 colonoscopy centers have been set up for cancer positive patients. We have plans and instructions to set up electronic data tracking centers in 500 upazilas."

In the event, Prof. Dr. Ashrafunnesa, Project Director of National Cervical-Oral and Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Training Center of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University presented detailed information.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sharfuddin Ahmed presided over the event as a special guest. Community Clinic Health Support Trustee Board President Prof. Dr. Syed Modachher Ali was present as a special guest.