Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum on Monday underscored the importance of a healthy lifestyle in preventing cancer and other chronic diseases, as the number of cancer patients—particularly breast cancer cases—continues to rise across the country.
Speaking at an event marking Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, she urged citizens to adopt better food habits and become more health-conscious.
“We must change our food habits and become more health-conscious,” she said.
Emphasizing the need for early detection and timely treatment, Nurjahan called for the training and deployment of more specialist doctors nationwide.
“We must produce enough specialist doctors so that cancer awareness and treatment can reach people in every district,” she added.
She noted that the government has already ensured cancer, kidney, and dialysis treatment facilities in all divisional hospitals.
Highlighting the importance of advanced medical equipment, she said the government has launched a Tk363 crore initiative to procure six additional Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machines for effective cancer therapy, expected to arrive in the coming months.
Nurjahan praised the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for its proactive role in breast cancer treatment and reaffirmed continued government support to strengthen such initiatives.
Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Professor Dr Md Abu Jafar, also spoke at the event, stressing that breast cancer is fully curable if detected early.
He urged women not to delay or feel embarrassed about getting screened, noting that cases are increasingly being found in women under 30.
“Regardless of age, anyone noticing symptoms should consult a doctor immediately,” he said.