OUR HISTORY
The Amader Gram Cancer Care & Research Center is a non-profit initiative of the Bangladesh Friendship Education Society (BFES) located in southwest Bangladesh, in the Rampal sub-district. It aims to address cancer and other non-communicable diseases in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 3.4
In 2007, Amader Gram, under the leadership of Reza Salim, partnered with a research group led by Professor Dr. Richard Love of The Ohio State University and The National Cancer Institute, U.S.A., to investigate better treatments for premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer. The outcome of this research is available on the NIH publication site: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27107325/
As part of Amader Gram's partnership, we developed a breast problem center in Khulna, which has now served over 26,000 women. In this center, we developed a model electronic medical record system, pioneered the use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of breast problems, and created an innovative model service program with a high paraprofessional-to-physician staffing ratio. The center created an IT-intensive model that is one of the innovative contributions to building Digital Bangladesh, earning a national e-Health championship award in 2010.
We also investigated how to better serve women in our rural communities with outreach clinics and conducted a Breast Cancer case-finding study. Publication Link: https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.17.7853
Prof. Mahmudul Haque
Sheikh Abdul Jalil
Prof. Dr Richard R Love
Reza Salim
In 2012, Professor Mahmudul Haque (an artist and university teacher of Rampal origin), and Freedom Fighter Sheikh Abdul Jalil (Deputy Commander of the Rampal-Mongla front during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971) encouraged and supported Amader Gram in its efforts to reach out and better serve rural residents of the Khulna division with cancer. Amader Gram proposed creating a center in Rampal, which idea received support from these leaders. In October 2013, Bangladesh Government approved the allocation of 8.2 acres of land in the Jhanjhania village of Rampal to develop a comprehensive cancer detection and treatment research center.
In 2016, Amader Gram initiated a project in the sub-district of Rampal to describe the social, economic, and health status of these rural citizens. Among 14,174 adults, we found high rates of hypertension (30%), diabetes (8%), and asthma (7%). Additionally, 1.3% of residents had cancer. Publication link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpo.2015.05.003
These findings, along with associated discussions with community residents and leaders, led us to broaden our health center project to focus on all non-communicable diseases. Publication link: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjmed.v30i1.39924
Further, we developed a symptom questionnaire for patients in need of palliative care, and developed a mobile app. Using this tool, we studied the symptoms and their levels in patients with advanced cancers. Publication link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28717768/
and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5915884/
Our vision "is to ensure bringing all facilities of cities to the doorsteps of rural populations". The AGCRC emerged from these ideal processes to develop a campus to address all NCDs and cancer specific services.
Since 2016, the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has provided annual financial support to cover operating costs and cancer detection services. In 2017, the Ministry of Social Welfare extended additional support for the construction of two campus buildings. With approval from the Planning Commission in 2019, these buildings were constructed by the Works Division of the Bangladesh Government. Upon completion, the buildings were officially handed over to AGCRC in December 2024.
The AGCRC initiative and government collaboration of different ministries is recognized as a classic example of private philanthropy augmented by Government support with a mandate for Service, Education & Research in Cancer.