(BSS) - Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain today said the government has taken an initiative to recruit 25,000 midwives to strengthen women`s healthcare and expand health services to marginalised communities.

"The midwives will play a key role in remote areas in the early detection of breast and cervical cancers and other diseases among women and raising health awareness and providing necessary counselling and advice," he said.

The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at a programme for distributing sewing machines among disadvantaged and destitute women and working women on Monohardi Government Pilot Model High School premises.

He said the chances of recovery increase significantly if breast and cervical cancers are detected at an early stage and treated appropriately.

To raise awareness about breast cancer, the government plans to introduce counselling programmes for female students and teachers at both public and private levels, Sakhawat said.

At the same time, the government has already launched a vaccination programme at the secondary-school level to prevent cervical cancer, he added.

"These initiatives will play an important role in increasing awareness among women and reducing the risk of cancer," the minister said.

Speaking about international relations and the country`s sovereignty, Sakhawat said that Bangladesh would have many friends in the outside world but no master.

"Bangladesh may be a small country in terms of territory, but its importance is significant because of its geographical location," he said.

"No one`s domination over even an inch of Bangladesh`s soil will be accepted," the minister said, adding that the government is determined to protect the country`s security, independence and sovereignty.

Monohardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahamudul Hasan chaired the event.

Belabo Upazila Nirbahi Officer Lailatul Hossain, Monohardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jahangir Badshah, Monohardi Upazila BNP Member Secretary Aminur Rahman Sarker Dolon, Joint Convener Moniruzzaman Monir, Municipal BNP Member Secretary Advocate Abdul Hannan Mia, Upazila BNP member Golam Mostafa and Upazila Jubo Dal Member Secretary Masudur Rahman Sohag, among others, attended the programme.

Later, the minister distributed sewing machines and fruit saplings among 300 people.