Cancer Survivors' Day
Detection can cut cancer
Programme told
People should be made aware that most forms of cancer are curable if diagnosed at an early stage, speakers said yesterday at an experience-sharing programme to mark the International Cancer Survivors' Day.
Tobacco and tobacco products are the main cause of nearly all forms of cancer, they added at the programme organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) in the capital's Dhanmondi.
Addressing as special guest, noted jurist Barrister Rafique-Ul Huq, who has been battling with cancer for 28 years, shared his experience.
“I have always seen my father with a burning cigar between his lips. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and soon passed away. Two of my elder brothers were also diagnosed as such and died,” said Huq.
“I think the government is indecisive on banning smoking because cigarette companies are one of the biggest taxpayers in the country,” he added.
Prime Minister's Health and Social Welfare Adviser Dr Syed Modasser Ali, addressing as chief guest, said the health ministry and finance ministry are divided on this issue [banning of smoking].
“Finance ministry is interested in revenues and taxes while the health ministry is concerned with people's general health,” he said adding that bureaucrats would change their stance overnight if transferred from health ministry to the finance ministry.
Now there are only 120 oncologists [cancer specialists] in the country while every year around 2 lakh people are diagnosed with cancer and 1.5 lakh die, said Begum Dina Haque, advisor of DAM.
Kazi Rafiqul Alam, president of DAM, Brig Gen (Retd) Dr Syed Fazle Rahim, director of Ahsania Mission Cancer Detection Centre and Hospital, and cancer specialist Prof Dr Syed Akram Hossain also spoke among others.
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