Due to overwhelming treatment costs, scarcity of trained professionals and unavailability of equipment, cancer care is still inaccessible to hundreds of thousands of cancer patients in Bangladesh.

It started out as a high fever that would not subside. So, Mr. Najmus Ahmed’s family had him admitted to a hospital in Bangladesh. Thinking it was just dengue, he remained optimistic. But a few days later, in March 2011, he was transferred to Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC) in Singapore.

Cancer cases are on the rise in Bangladesh and it is one of the main causes of increased mortality rates. To battle this unpleasant scenario, MGI has joined hands with Bangladesh Cancer Aid Trust (BANCAT) which is an association that helps individuals fight against cancer.

Buoyed by his first attempt of supporting a leukemic patient in need of funds, Mr. Najmus Ahmed Albab lobbied harder for more donations and turned this personal initiative into a foundation, the Bangladesh Cancer Aid Foundation (BANCAF), in 2011.

Sukhi, aged 30, lives in Kazipara, Barishal. She is a housewife and her husband is a tailor master in the village. Sukhi’s life was ‘sukhi’ until she figured that she was experiencing mild fever every now and then.

Sharmin, aged 16, lives in Mymensingh and is the only daughter of her farmer father, Abdus Samad.

Firoza Afroj Subarna, 43, a homemaker in Dhaka, had no idea her world would be upturned at the end of 2013 when her seemingly healthy body began to show signs of something sinister.

Former businessman M R Chowdhury has shown tremendous spirit and determination in his battle against cancer. He recalled that the first time he was diagnosed with lung cancer back in May of 2016,

“My spirits have not been broken the slightest. I was only briefly scared and confused in the first 24 hours of receiving the news,” says 53-year-old Sabina Kabir while recalling the moment when she was first diagnosed with cancer.

Ten months have passed since COVID-19 was detected in Bangladesh. What challenges have you faced at United Hospital and how have you addressed the needs of your patients, especially cancer patients?