BANGLADESHI children are mostly in risk of blood cancer and eye cancer as found in the survey conducted by National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM). Doctors hold the view that most of the cancer affected children might be cured by making available proper diagnosis and due treatment, as quoted in the national daily on Monday. The risk of blood cancer in children is on rise in the country and in our view all curative and curative measures must be at work to stop its spread.
There is no national survey in Bangladesh to identify the actual numbers of cancer patients. As per WHO findings, over 1.5 lakh children are found to have cancer every year and if they get proper treatment, 80 percent may be cured to return to healthy life. But due to lack of necessary treatment, most developing countries like Bangladesh can’t assure the needful environment and resources for treatment and over 90 percent of the cancer affected children in these countries die.
From 2012 to the first week of February over 20.16 lakhs children alone came to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for treatment, 260 were affected by leukaemia. This scenario proves that the quantity of cancer affected children of Bangladesh exceeds the current world average among children.
The report shows cancer in children from rural areas often being detected in last stage, because they initially take treatment from quacks mistakenly for other diseases and when they got know of the real cause, it is already late and most patients die. Treatment at last stage proves not much helpful. It is highly necessary to make people aware of the symptoms of cancer and awareness campaign both in rural and urban areas may help people to know about this deadly disease.
We find the people in public health sector show no concern about their responsibility. Most of the public health officials are anxious to be politically on the right side of the government and not on the right side of their public duties. This cannot and will not go on.
