Grameen Kalyan plans to establish 300 advanced primary healthcare centres and model secondary care hospitals across all 64 districts, aiming to serve 1.5 million people annually through 15.6 million home-based health screenings, the Yunus Centre said on Thursday.
The organisation has also launched a healthcare initiative offering 20,000 free cervical and clinical breast cancer screenings for underprivileged women across Bangladesh.
The pilot project, which began on April 19, 2026, targets married women aged between 30 and 60 who have been married for more than 10 years, aiming to deliver preventive care directly to underserved communities.
“A mother is the heart of her family, yet thousands of families face devastating emotional and financial tragedies each year due to unnoticed, preventable diseases,” said Grameen Kalyan founder Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus.
“This initiative ensures that marginalised communities receive world-class oncological care right at their doorsteps,” he added.
The screening programme is being carried out in collaboration with Oncology Club Bangladesh, Elekta Foundation Sweden, and Global Health Catalyst UK, involving oncology specialists including Professor Dr Shahana Pervin, Assistant Professor Dr Rumana Afroz, Assistant Professor Dr Farhana Haque, Consultant Dr Sumita Sarker, and Gynecological Oncology Specialist Dr Sadia Jabin Khan.
The initiative introduces Human Papillomavirus testing technology, positioning Grameen Kalyan in early cancer detection in the private sector.
Screenings are currently available at centres in the Savar region, including Suapur Health Center and Grameen Kalyan Rajnagar Health Center in Singair, Manikganj.
To support the programme, Grameen Kalyan has set up a molecular laboratory in Savar, offering subsidised PCR tests for Influenza A and B, COVID-19, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, Tuberculosis, and Thalassemia.
“Through the initiative, we are bringing life-saving, world-class cancer care directly to marginalised communities. We are on a mission to transform healthcare in Bangladesh at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, ensuring affordable and quality services reach unreached communities,” said Grameen Kalyan Managing Director A K M Moinuddin Chowdhury.
Established in 1996 as a social business following the vision of Professor Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Kalyan operates 153 community-based health centres across 38 districts.
The organisation serves around 750,000 rural residents annually, conducting 5.8 million domiciliary health checks, 130,000 ultrasound scans, 500,000 pathology tests, and 30,000 doctor consultations.
