Staff Correspondent

 Minister for Health and Family Welfare Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain on Monday  announced that the government is undertaking various initiatives to introduce breast cancer screening programs at the grassroots level across Bangladesh.

He noted that infrastructure development in healthcare, rapid recruitment of new physicians and midwives, and accelerated training programs are currently underway to achieve this goal. The government is actively working to raise awareness among women and ensure timely treatment through early detection.

The Minister made these observations as the chief guest at a discussion meeting held at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka on the occasion of "Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026." Dr. S.M. Ziauddin Haider, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Matters, attended as a special guest.

The Health Minister stated that the prevalence of breast cancer is rising nationwide, affecting women in both urban and rural areas. Due to a lack of awareness and screening facilities, many women fail to diagnose the disease at an early stage, missing opportunities for effective treatment. 

Speaking at the event, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr. S.M. Ziauddin Haider revealed that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now account for roughly 71 to 73 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh. 

Dr. Haider added that approximately 15 out of every 100,000 women in Bangladesh are diagnosed with breast cancer, while nearly 63 percent of affected women undergo no screening prior to diagnosis, leading to late-stage detection and complex medical treatment.

Presided over by Prof Dr. Nasir Uddin, Director of the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, the event was attended by Secretary General of the Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB) Dr. Zohirul Islam Shakil, Director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital Brigadier General A.K.M. Farhad Hossain, alongside healthcare professionals and administration officials.