The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Adviser for Finance Dr A B Mirza Azizul Islam on Tuesday emphasised the need for public-private partnership in providing treatment for cancer patients along with creating preventive awareness to face the dreaded disease.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the prize giving ceremony of a lottery held by the ENT & Head-Neck Cancer Foundation at the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday afternoon.

Former adviser of the caretaker government and vice president of the Foundation Prof Dr M A Majid, its secretary general and head of the department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of BSMMU Prof Alauddin and board member Syed Abdul Muktadir also spoke on the occasion.

President of ICC-Bangladesh Mahbubur Rahman and treasurer Dr Abdul Mobin, among others, were present.

The finance adviser said the country has already been able to create health infrastructure down to the rural level and the share of the private hospitals and clinics is also on the rise in shouldering the treatment load.

But there is a great need for increasing the quality and coverage of the treatment, he said adding the ENT Foundation's efforts to bring cancer treatment to people deserves appreciation.

Since cancer treatment is expensive, he said there should be collective efforts by the government and the private sector to educate and create awareness among the masses about preventive measures.

The ENT foundation will play a significant role in creating the mass awareness, he said and assured all out government support to it.

Earlier, Prof Alauddin explained the efforts behind the establishment of the foundation.

He said the foundation is also providing rural clinical facility and they have recently held two field camps - one at Chunarughat and the other at Norshindi where they have treated the poor patients.

Later the finance adviser handed over the prizes to four top winners. The first prize of the lottery was Taka 25 lakh, the second Taka three lakh and the third Taka 75,000. The fourth prize went to three winners, each having Taka 10,000.

Prof Alauddin said the foundation has been launched with contributions made by individuals, business leaders, NGOs, various government organizations and other charitable organizations.

They are planning a second lottery to raise fund to consolidate the organization and expand its activities, he said.