Cancer prevention, care, and outreach among the Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh

The 2017 exodus, described by the UN Human Rights Chief as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”, was not an isolated incident, but the culmination of decades of escalating human rights abuses, including the denial of citizenship, severe restrictions on movement, and widespread violence. Aid agencies traditionally prioritise immediate life-saving interventions; however, the long-term management of chronic conditions, such as cancer, is increasingly recognised as a critical area of need, particularly as the global refugee population lives in protracted situations where acute emergencies evolve into chronic crises. General cancer risk factors are exacerbated by the unique challenges of refugee life, in which unstable living conditions, disrupted social networks, and inadequate access to preventive health care substantially increase the risk of developing and dying from cancer. [...]to effectively address cancer prevention in this community, programmes that are sensitive to these unique challenges are essential. If the patient requires further examination or treatment, they are directed to Cox's Bazar District Hospital, where more serious cases are referred to specialised centres, such as Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).