The fourth Community-based Cancer Care Conference, marking the seventh anniversary of the Community Oncology Centre Trust, was held Saturday
The programme was held from 3pm to 8pm at the 3D Hall of Krishibid Institute in Dhaka, according to a press release.
Although organised on a relatively smaller scale, the conference was a unique platform for both medical and non-medical professionals interested in community-based approaches to cancer care.
Discussions covered not only diagnosis and treatment but also the socio-economic aspects of cancer care, the release adds.
Key topics — enhancing social engagement in cancer care, increasing health system responsiveness to community-based cancer services, community-based cancer screening and registration, family responsibility in accessing cancer services, community-based palliative care, the use of artificial intelligence in cancer care, the importance of nutrition for cancer patients, inspirational stories of survival, and various community-based initiatives, were discussed during the event.
In his welcome remarks, Professor Dr Habibullah Talukdar Raskin said, “With limited resources, it is not possible to reach marginalised communities in Bangladesh through hospital-based activities alone. Guided by this vision, the Community Oncology Centre Trust has been working for the past seven years to establish cancer diagnostic centres, provide central expert consultation via telemedicine/video calls, and ensure appropriate referral systems.”
He also said, “Our primary goal is to engage the community, raise public awareness on cancer prevention, and facilitate early diagnosis and treatment advice. This conference is expected to play a significant role in building bridges among small-scale cancer care providers, volunteers, cancer survivors, policy makers, and specialists across the country.”
Resource persons at the event included former director of the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH), Professor MA Hai; Professor Dr Abu Muhammad Zakir Hossain, president of Community Clinic Health Assistance Trust (CCHST); public health experts Dr Abu Jamil Faisal and Dr Arif Mahmud; Professor Dr Liaqat Ali and Professor Dr Syed Akram Hossain of the Health Reform Commission; Dr Halida Hanum Akhter of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission; palliative care pioneer Professor Dr Nizamuddin Ahmed; journalist and writer Asif Hasan Nabi; cancer specialist Dr Muhammad Rafiqul Islam; nutritionist Ishrat Jahan; gynecologist Professor Dr Saria Tasnim; agriculturalist and food safety activist Dr Md Zainul Abedin; Local Government Reform Commission member Mashhuda Khatun Shefali; cancer prevention activist Mosarat Sourav; and cancer survivor Farzana Ali Laboni.
Special guests included Professor Dr Nazmul Hossain, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, and Dr Md Jahangir Kabir of the National Cancer Research Institute.
The event also celebrated the seventh anniversary of the organising trust.
