In a groundbreaking collaboration, the National Cancer Centre Singapore, the Institute of Health Economics at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute are pioneering a transformative health initiative aimed at combating the escalating incidence of cancer within Nawly Village, Siddhipasha Union, Abhaynagar Upazila, Jessore District, Bangladesh. This project emerged in response to a global health crisis that saw nearly 10 million lives claimed by cancer in 2020, a burden disproportionately shouldered by lower-income nations, including Bangladesh. Here, cancer constitutes a leading cause of death, with annual fatalities reaching approximately 100,000.

The Nawly Village Cancer Screening Initiative is crafted to address the critical challenge of early cancer detection, specifically targeting cervical, breast, and oral cancers—among the most prevalent yet preventable cancers in Bangladesh. Despite the alarming statistics, preventive measures and early detection remain scarce at the primary healthcare level, leading to late-stage diagnoses and significantly reduced survival rates. This initiative seeks to bridge this gap by introducing a National Cancer Screening Program, emphasizing an organized community-based approach for early detection and intervention.

Key Objectives of the Initiative

• Design an organized community-based screening model tailored to the Bangladeshi context, focusing on cervical, breast, and oral cancers.
• Pilot the model in Nawly Village to assess feasibility, effectiveness, and scalability within a union council setting.
• Evaluate the pilot program to determine its impact on cancer detection rates, access to care, and overall community health outcomes.

The initiative promises not only to enhance the quality of life for individuals at risk or affected by these cancers but also to generate critical data on cancer incidence and mortality. This data will serve as a valuable resource for refining cancer control strategies and improving screening and treatment across Bangladesh.

Implications and Impact

This comprehensive effort aligns with global best practices in cancer screening, tailored to meet the unique socioeconomic, cultural, and healthcare landscapes of Bangladesh. It stands as a beacon of hope, offering a sustainable model for early cancer detection that could significantly reduce mortality rates, alleviate the economic burden of late-stage cancer care, and foster a healthier future for communities across the nation.

Join us in this vital campaign for health and hope. Together, we can turn the tide against cancer and light the path to a healthier tomorrow for Nawly Village and beyond.

Research Team: 

Dr. Evelyn Wong Yi Ting ( National Cancer Center Singapore); Dr. Syed Abdul Hamid; Md. Ragaul Azim; Md. Mahfuzur Rahman; Dr. Habibullah Talukder Raskin; Md. Sirajul Islam (Institute of Health Economics, DU)

Video Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x39otE_CqK0