The Mobilization
.The Amader Gram Cancer Care & Research Center is a not-profit initiative to address cancer and other non-communicable diseases (SDG Goal 3.4.1) located in southwest Bangladesh (Rampal sub-district). In 2007 The center was initially made in Rampal sub-district to address Breast problems as a part of a multi-country Breast Cancer research commissioned by a United States foundation IBCRF (International Breast Cancer Research Foundation) led by an academic researcher Professor Dr. Richard Love in collaboration with the College of Public Health of Ohio State University. The center began working as a one stop breast problem specialty center in Khulna city from October 2009 through a cooperative partnership with the Khulna Medical College & Hospital. The breast problem center expanded to the nearest districts and got immense responses from the community.
The center created electronic medical record system is one of the innovative contributions in building Digital Bangladesh that earned national e-Health championship award in 2010.
The Team Leader Professor Dr. Richard Love encouraged the Bangladesh team to have its own center to serve underprivileged rural population especially in Khulna region. In 2012 the then Health Advisor of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Prof Dr. Syed Modasser Ali and Khulna City Mayor Talukdar Abdul Khaleque (a Rampal origin political leader) took initiative to secure land. In October 2013 Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the allocation of 8.20 acres of land in Jhanjhania village of Rampal to develop a comprehensive cancer detection and treatment planning research center.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself was eager to organize such an initiative in rural areas saying in her vision- 'is to ensure all facilities of cities to the doorstep of rural population'. In a stand visit she encouraged the Amader Gram Team to continue work for rural areas in challenging sectors of health care. The AGCRC emerged from these processes to develop a campus to address all NCDs and cancer specific services.
From 2016 Health Services division of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare came forward with annual financial support contributing to operating costs and for cancer detection services. In 2017 The Ministry of Social welfare extended support to build the campus constructions. Under planning commission approval in 2019, the center was built by the Works division of Bangladesh Government and after finishing work is expected to handover to AGCRC in July 2023.
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.