Bangladesh
Together for Women’s Cancer Care in Bangladesh
Elekta Foundation has partnered with Grameen Kalyan to strengthen cervical and breast cancer screening and prevention in Bangladesh. Building on Elekta Foundation’s FAST model model for cervical cancer screening, the partnership applies an integrated dual‑screening approach that also includes breast cancer, with the aim of demonstrating a scalable, evidence‑based solution for early cancer detection. The collaboration will begin with a pilot project to screen 20,000 women, funded by Grameen Kalyan, to generate local evidence that can inform policy, support women’s health priorities, and contribute to the WHO’s 2030 cervical cancer elimination target.
All projects implemented by Elekta Foundation’s collaboration partners start with capacity building. It ensures that health staff are aligned around the dual screening process and clearly understand each step of the care pathway.
Based on the FAST model, capacity building strengthens laboratory environments, test management, clinical procedures, and communication of results to women. This holistic approach is essential for safe, coordinated screening and better health outcomes for women.
Capacity Building
Dialogue with women and patients is essential throughout the screening process. Clear, respectful communication helps women understand each step, from testing to results and follow‑up care. By listening to women’s questions, concerns, and experiences, health staff can build trust, reduce anxiety, and ensure that care is both person‑centred and effective. A strong dialogue is key to quality care and better health outcomes.
Compassion is central to this dialogue. Being listened to and treated with empathy helps women feel respected, supported, and confident in their care.
Patient Dialog
Breast and Cervical Cancer in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a lower‑middle‑income country in South Asia with a land area of approximately 148,000 square kilometres and a population of around 170 million people. About half of the population are women, representing a very large cohort requiring access to preventive health services across the life course. Cervical cancer and breast cancer are the two most common cancers affecting women in Bangladesh and together constitute a major public health challenge.
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer‑related morbidity and mortality among women in the country. It is the second most frequent cancer among women in Bangladesh and particularly affects women aged 15–44 years, during their most economically and socially productive years. There are approximately 64 million women aged 15 years and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer.
According to the Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (ICO/IARC), around 4.4% of women in the general population are estimated to harbour HPV types 16 or 18 at any given time, and 80.3% of invasive cervical cancers in Bangladesh are attributed to HPV‑16 or HPV‑18, the two most oncogenic HPV types.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Bangladesh. According to the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), breast cancer accounts for approximately 18% of all new cancer cases among women, making it the leading cancer by incidence in this population. Late presentation and limited access to early detection services contribute to high mortality rates, underscoring the need for strengthened screening and referral pathways.
About Grameen Kalyan
Grameen Kalyan was established in 1996 as a pioneering social business and is a sister concern of the Grameen family, founded by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. It operates with a strong commitment to bringing affordable, quality healthcare to underserved rural communities across Bangladesh
The organization’s journey began with the Rural Health Program (RHP), initiated in 1993 as an experimental model to address the deep-rooted connection between poverty and poor health. Following its early success, RHP evolved into a full-fledged social enterprise, Grameen Kalyan (where “Kalyan” means well-being), with a mission to provide accessible primary healthcare through community-based solutions.
Since start, Grameen Kalyan has grown to become one of the largest primary healthcare providers in the country. Currently, it operates 143 Community-Based Health Centers (CBHCs) across 31 districts, directly serving over 700,000 patients annually. Additionally, more than 7 million people benefit from outreach activities, including domiciliary services and school health programs, at a nominal cost.
Its integrated service offerings include doctor consultations, pathology testing through an advanced diagnostic lab, ultrasound imaging, vaccination and immunization, pharmacy services, telemedicine, outreach health camps, domiciliary care by community health assistants, cataract eye surgery, and Micro Health Insurance (MHI). The organization also runs a state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratory capable of performing advanced tests related to thyroid disorders, cardiac markers, infections, diabetes, reproductive health, and more, making high-quality diagnostic services available at a low cost.
Grameen Kalyan’s annual impact is significant: over 500,000 pathology tests and 110,000 ultrasound scans are conducted; more than 25,700 individuals receive vaccinations; 77,500 micro health insurance (MHI) cards have been issued; around 30,000 patients receive care via telemedicine; and over 2,000,000 school students receive free health check‑ups each year. The MHI cards are part of Grameen Kalyan’s Micro Health Insurance scheme, which aims to provide affordable healthcare services to marginalized and low‑income populations in Bangladesh.
A K M Moinuddin Chowdhury, Managing Director, says
“Grameen Kalyan believes in trust, quality and innovation in delivering services. We are on a mission to transform healthcare in Bangladesh at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. We exist to provide affordable and quality healthcare and well-being services in unreached communities at the bottom of the pyramid, empowering them to get out of the poverty cycle.”
Main Partners
The Foundation collaborates with key partners that acknowledge the importance of joining forces to tackle cervical cancer:
Rwandan Ministry of Health
Rwanda Biomedical Center
Rwanda Society for Family Health
Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)
Partners In Health
Heza Initiative
African Center for Research on End of Life Care
Grameen Kalyan, Bangladesh
Rayos Contra Cancer
United Nations Population Fund