70% cancer can be cured thru’ will power. Development in health and education sector is not possible on the part of government alone. This is why public-private partnership is essential. 30% poor patients will get treatment free of cost at Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital.

Noted lawyer Barrister Rafique-ul Huq said this while addressing as chief guest at a discussion meeting and cancer survivors feelings at Dhaka Ahsania Mission Bhaban auditorium in the city marking World Cancer Survivors’ Day-2011 at 11 A.M. on Saturday, 4 June 2011.

This is why, people from all walks of should come forward, he further said. I am a cancer survivor. I along with my family members am living with cancer for the last 30 years. This is why I am relentlessly working to build Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital. My friend Iqbal has arranged a fund raising dinner party at Manchester for collecting fund for Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital. He sought cooperation of all in building the hospital.

Expressing gratitude to all, Dhaka Ahsania Mission President Kazi Rafiqul Alam said, if people from all walks of life come forward in such a manner then definitely we shall be able to commission the cancer hospital by the year end. He said this while delivering his presidential address. The hospital will be run on ‘no profit, no loss’ basis, he said. About two lakh people are being attacked with cancer annually across the country annually. Of them, one and a half lakh die every year. About 5,000-crore taka goes abroad as expenditure of cancer treatment. He appealed to the countrymen to come forward to assist in building the hospital.

While speaking as special guest, National Professor Dr M R Khan said, 75% cancer can be cured through treatment, counselling and positive attitude. Eighty percent cancer of children is possible abroad while in our country 25% cancer of children can be cured. He welcomed the initiative of building Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital.

During the programme, Barrister Rafique-ul Huq handed over a cheque for Tk 10 crore donated by Canada expatriate Mahmud Hossain to Dhaka Ahsania Mission President Kazi Rafiqul Alam for building the hospital.

Cancer specialist Prof Dr Mahbub-ul Alam and Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital Project Director and hospital management specialist Dr Md Lutfar Rahman took part in the discussion. Mirpur Ahsania Mission Cancer Detection Centre and Hospital Director Brig Gen (retd) Dr Syed Fazle Rahim delivered welcome address.

On behalf of cancer survivors, Papiya and Dr Ibrahim Khalil expressed their feelings. They conquered cancer through treatment along with strong will power, they said. ‘We have fully recovered after taking treatment at Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital. Now we are living well,’ they said.

Speakers said, there is limitation in treatment of cancer in the country. At present, only 120 cancer specialists are available in Bangladesh. If detected earlier then cure of cancer is possible. This is why, awareness and detection of cancer at early stage is most essential.