Conference "Give cancer a pedal", Vrnjačka Banja

2016-10-03

On the third day of the caravan "Give cancer a pedal”, the expert conference was held in the congress hall of the thermal baths of Special hospital “Merkur” in Vrnjačka Banja. The conference, organized by the Women's centre "Milica" from Vrnjačka Banja, was accredited by the Institute of public health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanović Batut" and supported by the Ministry of Health. The conference was opened by Mrs Vesna Bondžić, president and founder of the Women's center "Milica". Welcoming all participants she expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of Health, Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja and Special hospital "Merkur" for supporting these activities as well as to the Institute of public health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanović Batut" and Institute of public health Kraljevo which took part in the realization of this event. Welcoming the guests of the Japanese team who are participating in the implementation of the "Project for the improvement of the National Programme for early detection of breast cancer in the Republic of Serbia" Mrs Bondžić expressed the hope that they will recognize the need to invest in the capacities of health care facilities in the technical and professional aspects. Mrs Bondžić also highlighted that primary health care is the first and very important link in the screening that should be strengthened. Through the joint action between NGOs and health care institution, we can hope to reduce the cancer mortality in Serbia.

On behalf of the Special hospital "Merkur", dr Daniela Karamarković welcomed all present and Mr Ivan Džatić, Deputy Mayor welcomed all participants on behalf of the Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja.

The representatives of the project team from Japan addressed the attendees, Mr Akihiro Fujiwara, project coordinator, Mr Tamotsu Nozaki, a cancer specialist and professor dr Satoshi Kaneko, professor at the University of Nagasaki and consultant of the "Project for the improvement of the National Programme for early detection of breast cancer in the Republic of Serbia". This project is a joint project between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia and the Japanese government. The conference was attended by 200 health care workers from Vrnjačka Banja, Kraljevo and Trstenik. The conference was completed by performing a test that carries 3 points.

Speakers at the conference were:

- Prim dr Verica Jovanović, head of the Cancer Screening Office, with the lecture "Implementation of organized breast cancer screening - the importance of the program and improvement of health of women in the Republic of Serbia"

- Dragana Milićević Tandijera, head of the department of health promotion of the Institute of public health Kraljevo, with the lecture "Health promotion, the importance of promotion in early detection of breast cancer on the territory of Vrnjačka Banja and Kraljevo"

- Dr Klaudia Kravić, Cancer Screening Office, with the lecture "Implementation of the organized cancer screening programs in the Raška district"