Accra:The Health and Family Welfare Minister, Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, has called for a coordinated effort involving the government, educated society, and physicians to raise awareness about breast cancer nationwide. Speaking at a discussion on breast cancer awareness at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, the minister emphasized that government initiatives alone are insufficient to address the issue.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister highlighted the need for everyone to contribute, noting that rural women are often too occupied with household duties to focus on their health. He urged educated individuals and government bodies to take responsibility in this regard.
The minister called on physicians and civil society to lead efforts in saving lives, particularly urging female doctors to engage in rural outreach campaigns. He suggested that female doctors could form associations to educate women in villages about breast cancer and self-examination by visiting their ancestral homes at least once a year.
He criticized conventional methods like urban-centric symposiums and media scrolls for failing to reach underprivileged communities. He reiterated the government’s ongoing efforts to decentralize screening services to Upazila Health Complexes, acknowledging the challenges involved in infrastructure and training.
The minister also warned about the psychological impact of breast cancer on women and urged a return to natural, healthy lifestyles amidst the changes brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The event was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on health affairs Ziauddin Hyder, senior health officials, specialized surgeons, and eminent physicians.