The first ever web-based initiative to raise awareness about the causes, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in Bangladesh - cancerbd.com - was launched through a humble programme at the auditorium of Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh in the capital’s Shegun Bagicha yesterday.
Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu inaugurated the website and spoke at the programme as chief guest.
Apart from spreading knowledge about the deadly disease, the website also looks to financially help cancer patients in their treatments by hosting advertisements.
The Cancer Awareness Activist Forum (CAAF) is one of the organising partners of cancerbd.com.
At the unveiling programme, the minister said: “I heartily congratulate this wonderful initiative. I believe that the expensive treatment for this deadly disease can become much less so if the well-to-do citizens of the country come forward. I urge all with the means to extend their supporting hand considering the humanitarian grounds.”
Rafe Sadnan Adel, crime reporter of private satellite television station Channel 24, is the initiator of this unique website.
“My mother has been fighting ovarian cancer for nearly three years. Over this time, I have felt the need for a one-stop cancer information centre. I do not have the means to start a brick and mortar centre, but in this age of information and communication technology the World Wide Web is always open. Hence cancerbd.com,” said Adel.
“Although this initiative was mainly aimed at raising monetary aid for my mother’s cancer treatment, the long term goal is to eventually help all cancer patients in the country,” he said.
The web portal contains valuable detailed information on the various types, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, hospitals, specialists and drugs related to cancer - all free of any costs.
Cancer patients and their families can also directly consult specialist doctors and take advice from them - also fully free of cost.
The organiser said the website would be continuously updated with information on the latest research and innovations in the treatment of cancer that had been going on around the world.
The CAAF also wished to organise various awareness building programmes such as road march, human chains and free treatment camps.
The organisers believe that the media can play a vital in role in building cancer awareness among the masses and also ensure finance for the expensive treatment of the deadly disease.
Financial help for the treatment of Adel’s mother can be deposited to savings account No 108-101-39271, Dutch Bangla Bank Limited, Shantinagar Branch, Dhaka.
