Speakers at an event stressed creating public awareness to substantially reduce the death rate of women with breast cancer in the country. The mass media can play a significant role in raising public awareness about prevention and treatment of the disease, they observed.
They made the observations at a seminar on breast cancer awareness jointly organised by ‘Amra Nari’ and ‘Amara Nari Research and Development’ at the auditorium of the Department of Architecture in the capital on Thursday.
A number of female officials of nine departments under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works took part in the event with the objective to raise awareness, emphasise the importance of early detection and provide preventive information.
MM Zahidur Rahman Biplob, founder and chief coordinator of ‘Aamra Nari’ and ‘Aamra Nari Research and Development; delivered the welcome speech, while Dr. Umme Humyra Kaneta, a breast cancer specialist from National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital (NICRH); was keynote speaker.
Dr. Umme Humyra Kaneta discussed breast cancer risk assessment, early symptom identification, and the importance of regular screenings for women. She noted that performing self-exams monthly starting at age 20, and getting an annual mammogram starting at age 40, can play an effective role in breast cancer prevention.
Md. Abdur Rahman Tarafder, additional secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Syeda Farhana Kawnain, joint secretary of the ministry; Most. Ferdousi Begum, joint secretary of the ministry; and Mir Manzurur Rahman, chief architect of Department of Architecture; also spoke on the occasion.
Some of the speakers of the event said that many patients of breast cancer do not receive any information before the awareness. They mostly receive information from physicians. Mass media should focus on raising public awareness about prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
Speaking at the event, MM Zahidur Rahman Biplob said, “We have been organising seminars to create awareness about breast cancer among the young society and provide necessary information, which will act as a strong message of health awareness in their daily life. Active role of mass media is making our awareness activities stronger. The Bangladesh Post, Daily Ittefaq, Ekttar TV and Dhaka Mail are with us in this initiative as media partners.”
He said that the media plays a vital role in breaking common misconceptions about breast cancer, and providing real information and necessary health knowledge. “We hope that with these seminars we have a great wish, that the active participation of the media will jointly initiate a new social vision, where a conscious society that cares about health will be developed,” he added.
According to the World Health Organisation, nearly 15,000 women in Bangladesh are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, with over 7,500 losing their lives to the disease.
Many women were unable to recognise early signs due to social barriers and lack of awareness, the speakers said in the event.
In his speech, Md. Abdur Rahman Tarafder said that creating mass awareness about breast cancer is very important to reduce deaths of women with the disease. “I hope that we will be able to reduce the death rate of women infected with the disease to zero in the country,” he said.
