Cancer must have to be conquered instead of fear. It requires awareness, change in eating habit and a tension-free atmosphere for keeping cancer away. Till now the government has allotted Tk 10 crore and Tk 39 crore to Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital in two stages, out of it Tk 18 crore 75 lakh has already been given by this time. In the next ADP, the allotment for treatment of cancer from this hospital will be doubled. Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid said this while speaking as Chief Guest at a discussion on World Cancer Day at Dhanmondi Mission Bhaban auditorium in the city on Thursday, 3 February, 2011.

He further said, the government will provide all-out cooperation for cancer treatment. The government thinks that poor patients will get treatment from this hospital at a nominal cost. Cancer treatment facilities are too meager in the country. According to my knowledge, Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital is the only reliable place where cancer treatment facilities are available.

While delivering his presidential address, DAM President Kazi Rafiqul Alam said, till now about 90,000 patients were treated from Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital being run from Mirpur in Dhaka. About 10,000 more patients were operated upon rom this hospital. We shall be able to commission the Radiotherapy Unit, Day-Care Unit, Out-Patient Department and laboratory of 500-bed Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital being built at Uttara in the city. At the initial stage, treatment facilities will be provided from 150-bed hospital in June-July next year. Government, general people, affluent people and common people--all share this noble initiative. Expressing gratitude to all, he said, cooperation of all is needed for prevention of cancer at grassroots level.

Special Guest National Professor Dr M R Khan said, two-third child cancer patients are cured in the developed world. But it is very expensive. So, in our country, the government should keep watch on medicine manufacturers for easy availability of cancer treatment.

The theme of this year’s World Cancer Day was ‘Teach Children and Teenagers to Avoid UV Exposure by being Sun Smart.’

At the function, Abul Kalam Azad, a recovered cancer patient expressed his feelings about the discomfort during ailment and recovery period. He said, an opportunity should be created to cure cancer like killer disease tuberculosis (TB). He informed that he has been cured taking treatment from Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital. It is possible to get rid of the disease if affluent people and government come forward.

While discussing, speakers said, there are 12 lakh cancer patients in the country. Every year, 2 lakh cancer patients are being attacked with the disease anew. Sixty percent cancer patients die within a period of 5 years. At present the mortality rate from cancer is 8 per cent. This number will increase 13 times by the year 2030.

Cancer Specialist Prof Dr Mahbubul Alam presented the key-note paper. Director of Mirpur Cancer Detection Centre and Hospital Brigadier General (retd) Dr Syed Fazle Rahim took part at the discussion. Besides, high government officials, representatives of various organizations working for prevention of cancer, cancer specialists, doctors, nurses and media personalities were present on the occasion.