Every year, around 7,000 women die from cervical cancer, which means one woman dies every 1.3 hours. It is the second leading cause of female deaths after breast cancer in Bangladesh.
Speakers shared this information on Thursday at a seminar on cervical cancer awareness organised by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at North South University and NSU Model Pharmacy in collaboration with Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Limited.
The keynote speaker, Mohammad Minhaj Hossain, manager, SMD, Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Limited, said, “Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death among women after breast cancer. The main reasons are the lack of awareness and social taboos. Bangladesh is a conservative society, and we need to overcome this.”
Dubbing cervical cancer a silent killer, he said, “Without screening, no one can detect the disease early. Without testing, the disease becomes visible only after 12-13 years, but by then, there is only a 1% chance of survival.
“There are more than 50 colposcopy screening centres in Bangladesh, but due to a lack of awareness and social taboos, people do not take tests, which is why the situation remains alarming.”
Dipak Kumar Mitra, professor and dean, School of Health and Life Sciences, North South University, said, “Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers where we know the exact cause, human papillomavirus (HPV). The best prevention is vaccination.”
Mohammad Hossain Shahriar, professor and chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, said, “Prevention is better than cure, and vaccines are very effective against the HPV.”
Every year, approximately 11,956 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in Bangladesh, averaging about 33 cases per day.
NSU Model Pharmacy Superintendent Borhan Uddin was also present along with students and staff members.
With the motto “Protect Yourself, Protect Your Community With Vaccines,” the seminar aimed to raise awareness about cervical cancer prevention and highlight the vital role of vaccination in safeguarding public health.
