On 19 January 2020, SERAC-Bangladesh and Community Oncology Centre Trust jointly organized a virtual discussion meeting to mark up the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
As an expert discussant Chairman of Community Oncology Centre Trust Prof. Sabera Khatun, Secretary of Community Oncology Centre Trust Rtn. Mosarrat Jahan Saurabh, Convenor of Jananir Jonno Padajatra and Co-Chairman of Cancer and NDC awareness programme Dr. Habibullah Talukder Ruskin and also Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh SM Shaikat attended the meeting. Also health professionals, experts and young people from diverse group and geographical location attended the meeting.
According to International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) an estimated number of 569847 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 311365 women died from the disease. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types is the main cause of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer, because vaccines exist that protect against high-risk HPV types and screening programmes can detect signs of disease at an early stage, allowing for effective treatment and management of the condition.
As per IARC in Bangladesh the number of women affected by breast cancer is in the first position and cervical cancer placed 2nd highest. Every year 8068 new cases of cervical cancer and 5214 deaths were reported in Bangladesh. As a low‐resource country situated in Southeast Asia with a female population of approximately 50%, the estimated age‐standardized incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer were approximately 10.6 and 7.1 per 100 000 women.
During the discussion meeting, Chairman of Community Oncology Centre Trust Prof. Sabera Khatun said, there are two major factors of a women affected by cancer disease and related death. Our testing facilities are poor and awareness progammes are limited. We must acknowledge the alarming situation as the vaccination of this disease not continuing since many years.
Community Oncology Centre Trust Secretary Rtn. Mosarrat Jahan Saurabh expresses her deep concern on the social structure and educational models of Bangladesh. As it is yet unknown to the community and people don’t like to discuss about it openly. Our women are most at risk for the disease and young peoples can play key roles in this such situation.
During his speech Convener of Jananir Jonno Padajatra and Co-Chairman of Cancer and NDC awareness programme Dr. Habibullah Talukder Ruskin said, to control this disease men and youth have a special act to play, every year new cases around 8 thousands whom are women and among that more than 5 thousands reported death only in Bangladesh. It is a matter of joy that this disease is fully curable at early stage. He expresses community effort to stop cancer and cervical cancer can be beat if the community concerned and aware of it.
SERAC-Bangladesh Executive Director SM Shaikat said, young people these days are very conscious than before and if we engage and informed young community we can handle the situation. We never taught at family or schools to youth and adolescents about the disease and it is our lacking in curriculum that should include. As a youth focused organization SERAC-Bangladesh glad to be a part of this event and continuing our effort in future.
At the discussion meeting youth from around all division joined and asked questions. The event also attended SERAC-Bangladesh’s Director program- Shahina Yasmin, Senior program officer – Rokonol Rabbi, Tasnia Ahmed, Program Officer- Nusrat Sharmin Resma and so on.
