Minister Zahid Hossain in Dinajpur: Social Awareness Essential to Prevent Breast Cancer
Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain has urged building social awareness to prevent breast cancer. He laid special emphasis on making women in remote areas aware for disease prevention.
The minister said diagnosing the disease at an early stage is extremely important in breast cancer treatment. If the disease is detected at the right time, the chance of cure increases greatly.
The minister made the remarks as chief guest on Saturday evening at the closing and scientific session of a month-long breast cancer awareness programme in Dinajpur. The event was held at the auditorium on the third floor of the Zia Heart Foundation building in Dinajpur town.
The Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum and the Khurshid Jahan Haque Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital, Dinajpur jointly organised the month-long programme.
The closing session was chaired by A K M Azad, vice-president of the Khurshid Jahan Haque Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital, Dinajpur and general secretary of the Zia Heart Foundation.
Special guests who spoke at the event included National Parliament whip Md Akhtaruzzaman Mia, Directorate General of Health Services director general Professor Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas, Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum founder and chief coordinator Professor Dr Md Habibullah Talukder Raskin, deputy commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam, police superintendent Md Zedan Al Musa PPM and district BNP general secretary Bakhtiar Ahmed Kochi.
Speakers at the session said women must overcome social hesitation and reluctance over breast cancer and consult a doctor at the right time. They also called on the relevant government quarters to strengthen breast cancer screening facilities across the country.
Also present were Zia Heart Foundation vice-president Professor Dr A H M Shafiqur Rahman, joint secretary Md Abu Taher Abu, Dr Md Ziaul Haque Zia, Khurshid Jahan Haque Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital general secretary and Zia Heart Foundation treasurer Md Anwarul Kabir, Zia Heart Foundation executive member S M Khalekuzzaman Babu and Alhaj Abu Bakkar Siddique. The event was conducted by the institute's joint secretary Rahbar Kabir Pial.
Earlier, at the scientific session, specialist doctors of the country discussed in detail modern breast cancer treatment methods, new advances in medical science and various strategies to raise awareness at the grassroots level.
The organisers expressed hope that the successful conclusion of the month-long programme would create a new wave of awareness among people in remote areas for breast cancer prevention.
