DHAKA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government is expanding cancer treatment capacity with the procurement of new radiotherapy and robotic surgery equipment.
The country's Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain made the announcement on Monday, saying, "We're moving swiftly to set up eight cancer institutes across the eight divisions and expand radiotherapy services at the district level so that cancer treatment reaches the grassroots."
He added that the government has planned to procure 17 linear accelerators to make cancer treatment available across the country.
"We're also going to bring five major robotic surgery machines for the first time," the minister said, emphasizing early detection and public awareness as critical components of the government's cancer-control strategy, particularly for breast and cervical cancers.
He said steps are underway to intensify HPV vaccination campaigns and promote breast cancer self-screening and awareness among women.
In Bangladesh, 106 out of every 100,000 people suffer from cancer, with the disease currently causing 12 percent of total deaths in the country, said a Bangladesh Medical University study report released last year. ■
