The government is taking comprehensive measures to roll out nationwide breast cancer screening programs at the grassroots level, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced on Sunday (October 18, 2026). To facilitate early detection and treatment, healthcare infrastructure is being upgraded alongside accelerated recruitment and specialized training for new doctors and midwives.
Addressing a discussion seminar for 'Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026' at the National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery as chief guest, the Minister stressed that early detection remains the single most effective tool in fighting the disease. He highlighted that lack of awareness and delays in seeking medical help prevent many rural women from receiving timely diagnosis and life-saving care. Urging doctors to take an active humanitarian role, Minister Sakhawat called upon physicians to spend at least two to three days each year visiting their home villages to educate local women on early symptoms and self-examination.
Special Guest Dr. S. M. Ziauddin Haider, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, revealed alarming health statistics, noting that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and cancer currently account for 71% to 73% of total deaths in Bangladesh. He stated that breast cancer affects approximately 15 out of every 100,000 women in the country, but roughly 63% of affected women have never undergone any form of screening, leading to late-stage complications. The event was chaired by Institute Director Professor Dr. Nasir Uddin, with DAB Secretary General Dr. Zahirul Islam Shakil and DMCH Director Brig. Gen. A K M Farhad Hossain in attendance.
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Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
