Cervical cancer is one of the most major health concerns in Bangladesh with a staggering 12,000 new cases and 6,000 deaths reported each year. With the aim to become the regional training hub for cervical cancer in Bangladesh, providing training to service providers from various districts and upazilas of the country, the Cervical Cancer Screening Training and Research Center of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), was inaugurated on February 20th, 2023, with the technical support of HAEFA and Brown University and funding support from the UNFPA and DGHS. 

Training on Screening, Treatment & Management for Prevention of Cervical Cancer was held in three consecutive batches at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in February. The First Batch commenced from 11th February till 23rd February 2023, the Second Batch from 25th February till 9th March, 2023 and the Third Batch, from 11th March to 23rd March, 2023. In the 1st Batch, Gynae consultant from Ulipur UHC, Medical officer from District Hospital of kurigram & Bhurungamari, SSN from DH, Bhurungamari & Rawmari UHC, Also Mymensingh Medical College Hospital’s Gynae Consultant were present. The 2nd & 3rd batches included the presence of Cox’s Bazar District’s service providers, Gynae consultant and MO’s. A total of 44 service providers were trained by these training sessions. 

The training programs were designed to conduct a 12-day training. In the first 6 days, VIA Basic training and in the following 6 days, Colposcopy basic training with advance management were held. 

All batches were closed with a certificate giving ceremony, where Director of DMCH Dr. Nazmul Haque, Deputy Director Dr Md Zillur Rahman, Assistant Director of DMCH Dr Ashraful Alam, Gynae Departmental Head Prof. Dr Nazma Haque with additional 6 faculty members were present.  

Since August 2015, Asia Akter Shima has been an integral part of the HAEFA team. She is a Diploma Pharmacist (B-Grade) under the Bangladesh Pharmacy Council, and started her career by working as a pharmacist at HAEFA’s Dhaka-based healthcare project for readymade garment (RMG) factory workers; she later moved on to the Bhashanchar health post in November 2020. Born in Dubail, Delduar, Tangail, Asia had always observed the disparities in healthcare for people belonging to different socioeconomic classes. She realized that despite its importance, healthcare is almost inaccessible or even completely out of reach for many in Bangladesh. Ms. Shima is responsible for dispensing medicine to the FDMN patients based on the doctors’ prescriptions, and she also regularly counsels the patients on the proper dosage and necessary information about their medicines. Besides these, Asia works closely with local authorities, CiC staff members, and staffers of other NGOs to ensure that the FDMN refugees receive the best possible healthcare in Bangladesh. Although tending to patients for hours can be physically and mentally draining at times, Asia deeply cherishes her time at the health post. In the future, Asia hopes, HAEFA will be able to expand its operations significantly. She believes there are many underserved communities throughout Bangladesh whose lives could be changed for the better with HAEFA’s care.

Mr. Shakawat Hossain joined HAEFA as an Assistant Operations Manager in July 2018 and became the National Operations Manager in March 2022. He supervises and manages operations of the “Cervical Cancer Screening, Detection, Treatment, and Elimination” program in the public health care facilities of nine sub-districts in Kurigram district and six sub-districts in Cox’s Bazar to maintaining a partnership with government counterparts for effective implementation of the health programs. He also manages HAEFA’s internal affairs, including ensuring internal and external audits take place smoothly and fairly and drafting essential documents. Previously Mr. Hossain also used to assist the establishment of a semi-automated NCD-focused Pathological Diagnostic Laboratory for FDMN refugees and the host community in HAEFA’s Health Post at Balukhali Camp 09, Cox’s Bazar, as Assistant Operations Manager.

Mr. Hossain joined the a2i program of Bangladesh Government’s ICT Division as a Strategic Planning and Marketing Intern in January 2020, where he used to merge 4,551 Union Digital Centers across Bangladesh to bolster connection, integration, and accelerated product reach through Bangladesh’s national postal service. He completed his Bachelor’s in Business Administration at East-West University, Bangladesh in 2020. Mr. Hossain believes in HAEFA’s goal to launch its projects in every district across the country to bring all the underserved people in Bangladesh under one quality healthcare system. He looks forward to being part of HAEFA’s journey in every way and staying with the team.

• HAEFA-UNFPA Meeting held on December 18th to discuss the Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment.