European Cervical Cancer prevention week - January 22-28, 2017

2017-01-21

European Cervical Cancer prevention week is celebrated from January 22-28, 2017 in order to raise awareness among women about cervical cancer and ways of prevention. Recognizing the importance of this campaign, Serbia has already actively participated eleven times in celebrating this occasion.

This Week sends a message about the importance of preventive measures available in our country, in order to prevent morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer.

 The main message to all women is that cervical cancer is a malignant disease that can be prevented. "Day of Health" is the slogan that emphasizes the need to, once again, appeal to our sisters, mothers, daughters, friends, to think about their reproductive health during European week of prevention of cervical cancer, when they shall visit their doctor and take into consideration some of the available options for prevention.

Cervical cancer, for nearly a decade, represents a serious public health problem in Serbia. Every year in our country the average of new registered cases of cervical cancer numbers 1244, while 482 women lose their lives from this type of cancer, which we know for certain that it belongs to the group of most preventable types. Of particular concern is the fact that Serbia is still in the group of European countries with the highest rates of incidence and mortality from cervical cancer. In terms of morbidity from cancer of the cervix, Serbia is fourth in Europe, after Romania, Lithuania and Bulgaria. Unfortunately, the death rate of this type of cancer in women is in second place in Europe, right after Romania.

One of the effective measures of prevention is immunization against the human papillomavirus. This intervention is cost-effective, especially in countries where resources are limited, the incidence of HPV infection is high, and preventive examinations poorly attended. Immunization does not eliminate the need for carrying out preventive examinations, since the existing vaccines do not protect against all types of HPV. It is important to know that almost every case of cervical cancer can be prevented. Well-organized screening programs can prevent up to 80% of cases of cervical cancer: 1

European Association for cervical cancer has made recommendations for promoting Prevention Week. Recommended activities related to: 2

 

- Distribution of educational and promotional materials in public places such as shopping centers, metro stations, bus stations, as well as providing advice and information on the importance of taking advantage of available prevention programs,

- Organizing educational seminars for residents in the community, schools, universities, working organizations,

- Organizing forums for parents about the importance of HPV immunization as preventive measures,

- Organizing lectures on the prevention of cervical cancer for adolescents in high schools,

- Seminars on the prevention of cervical cancer for students of medicine and health care workers,

- Public events, appearances in the media, etc.

- Discussions on social networks on prevention of cervical cancer.

 

One of the activities during the European Week of Cervical Cancer Prevention is distributing of brooches "Pearl of Wisdom". Brooches, symbolizing the transfer of knowledge during this week are, besides women, distributed to all those who support the fight against cervical cancer. To this date, over 1.5 million Pearls of Wisdom have been distributed across Europe and they have become a recognizable symbol of this campaign (www.PearlofWisdom.eu).

 

In the upcoming week, it is necessary to intensify activities to promote the importance of preserving reproductive health and the possibility of taking advantage of all available measures for prevention of cervical cancer.

 

The epidemiological information

Screening information/data

HPV Questions and Answers

Preventive examinations leaflet

Leaflets HPV

HPV Brochure

Reproductive health Brochure

HPV Poster

 

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