Public health oncology in practice: The Amader Gram Rampal Project in rural Bangladesh

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe science-grounded goals for public health oncology-cancer medicine for populations-across the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care spectrum, are well-described. How to optimally address these goals, particularly in populations where cancer morality is high, is poorly defined.We propose creation of a 160,000 population-targeting "laboratory" in a rural Bangladeshi upazila in which to develop, introduce, carefully analyze and modify based on data, strategies and models for implementing public health oncology in practice. Critical activities of this project are: (1) strengthening the local primary health care system using a community and allopathic and traditional medicine health care worker relationship-building and social mobilization model. (2) Establishment in the upazila for all inhabitants of a longitudinal database of (i) demographic characteristics; (ii) health status and major risk factors for disease; (iii) disease episodes and their treatment; (iv) a cancer registry; (v) recording of deaths and cancer-cause-specific deaths; and (vi) numbers and types of traditional medicine practitioners. (3) Complete population coverage with interventions addressing major avoidable risk factors for cancer. (4) Development of affordable cancer diagnosis and treatment facilities, for example with extensive use of point-of-contact ultrasound for cancer diagnosis and basic staging; and innovative business models to allow affordable care. (5) Tele-home hospice-regular symptom and performance status reporting, and management using a cell phone application for palliative care patients.The goal of this project is to demonstrate that optimal cancer health for local circumstances as a human right can be achieved sustainably and affordably.

Pot Song as a Novel Cancer Communication Intervention: Lessons Learned from Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Culturally Grounded Intervention for Breast Cancer Education in Rural Bangladesh

“…A non-governmental organization, Amader Gram (Our Village), has been established there to provide BCa care to the residents of the villages in the district. The goal of the study was to explore novel ways to encourage BCa screening among rural populations, particularly indicating the availability of a local breast care facility, Amader Gram, if the residents choose to get breast care in the future [14].…”

“…Key informant interviews and focus groups were conducted in Khulna, a southern division in Bangladesh. These interviews and focus groups were used to identify key cultural, linguistic, and structural factors influencing breast problem care-seeking (Table 1) [7,14]. One key finding was that there is no specific word or words for breast cancer in the commonest native language-Bangla.…”

Pilot Study on the Application of Telemedicine as a Tool for Population-Based Cancer Registry in Hlegu Township, Yangon Region, Myanmar

“…[6][7][8] Basic health staffs (BHS) in rural areas serve as _______________________________________ *To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +95-95136248 E-mail: ksadmr@gmail.com DOI: https://doi.org/10.34299/mhsrj.00932 the first contact point in the population-based cancer registry system 9,10 and the situation is similar in the context of primary health care in Myanmar. Therefore, it is a necessity for incorporating the innovative approaches to establish and strengthen the existing links between the population-based cancer registries within the infrastructure of township level health system strengthening.…”