Discussion on “Women’s Reproductive Health, Cancer and Rights” held in Dhaka

A discussion on ” Women’s Reproductive Health, Cancer and Rights” was held on March 9, 2019 at Sagor-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in observance of International Women’s Day.

Community Oncology Foundation of Bangladesh in association with Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum organized the session. Professor Sabera Khatun, Chairman of Gynaecological Oncology Department, BSMMU; Professor Dr. Abdur Rahman, Former Director, NIPSOM and Founder Chairman, Department of Public Health, Jahangirnagar University, and Dr. Md. Habibullah Talukder Ruskin, Associate Professor and Head of Cancer Epidemiology, National Institute of Cancer Research Hospital (NICRH) of Bangladesh presented the keynote papers.

Yukie Yoshimura, Chief Advisor of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) also addressed on this occasion. Other discussions included Rokeya Rumi, a cancer survivor, Ms. Jebunnesa, Founder of a volunteer organization Heal, Hosne Ara Hannan, a Senior Member of Aparajita.

The speakers told that there is a profound connection between the reproductive health of women and cancers. Cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, choriocarcinoma, breast cancer are noted among them.

Women are deprived of prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer. The right of taking some important decisions like losing the reproductive capacity; to continue or to terminate a pregnancy, hysterectomy in relation to cancer treatment is ignored in most cases.

The speakers urged to increase social awareness to fight cancer of women. The underscore that everybody has some responsibility in this journey.