EU PROGRES

‘One in every eight Serbian women gets breast cancer’ and ‘four Serbian women get cervical cancer every day’ are the distressing statistical data that ranked Serbia at the top of the list of European countries with largest number of women suffering from these diseases. It is therefore necessary for women to have regular check-ups so as to take care of themselves and their offspring – was confirmed by all participants of the conference and symposium that were held in Bujanovac within the “Find Time” campaign intended to raise awareness about how important it is to protect and improve women’s health. This campaign is funded by the European Union and the Government of Switzerland through the European Partnership with Municipalities Programme – EU PROGRES and implemented by V+O Communication.

Talking about the plans of the Republic of Serbia’s Ministry of Health, Mr Jugoslav Kelečević M.D. said that the National Programme for Early Detection of Cervical and Colorectal Cancer was adopted in 2013. “The Programme is already implemented in several medical centres, and more than 40 primary health centres will be joining them in 2014. Also, the acquisition of equipment and training of professional staff take place in addition to the screening programme,“ said Mr Kelečević.

Ms Verica Jovanović, M.D. Assistant Professor, Head of the Cancer Screening Office in “Milan Jovanović Batut” Institute of Public Health, said that it is particularly important that we all join forces to early detect malignant diseases and prevent their spread. She added that in the end of 2012 and during 2013 the Cancer Screening Office sent screening invitations to 90 thousand women in Serbia, but that only one in two women responded. “Organised screening and awareness-raising among women are the only way to ensure early detection and, consequently, treatment for the disease,“ said Ms Jovanović.

"The intention of ‘Find Time’ Campaign is to call attention to the fact that to take care of one’s health means to take care of one’s offspring, and that prevention is best medicine. In addition to implementing this Campaign, EU Progress also provided, with the financial support of the EU, the Government of Switzerland, and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, equipment worth 330 thousand euros for medical institutions in eight municipalities. The idea was to enhance the reproductive health of local women and, as Mr Marko Vujačić, deputy manager of EU PROGRES Programme said, the outside-hospital maternity ward in Preševo was among the institutions that received this equipment“.

The ‘Find Time’ Campaign was well received both by the professional and general public, and the participants of the conference all agree that preventive examinations that protect women’s health are something that is a must and the only way to ensure safe and healthy future.