The “Renesansa” Association yesterday organized the traditional “Daffodil Days” campaign at “Trg Oslobodjenja-Alija Izetbegovic” in Sarajevo. The members, women diagnosed with breast cancer, gathered in an effort to raise social awareness through a symbolic action about the importance of preventive breast examinations for the purpose of early detection of breast cancer and, consequently, reducing mortality.
As reminded by the “Renesansa” Association, the Canadian Cancer Society first used daffodils as a symbol at its events in 1956, when their volunteers handed out flowers and thus raised funds for cancer research.
The president of the “Renesansa” Association, Enida Glusac, said that “Daffodil Day” is an awakening of new life, a new hope.
“Today we have gathered here and are handing out daffodils to our fellow citizens, and they are helping the work of the ‘Renesansa’ Association with their modest donations. In this way, we are telling them about the importance of checkups and self-examinations of breasts and thereby raising awareness about breast cancer. We invite you to join us, and by reporting from this important event help ensure that our voice is heard as far as possible so that together we can influence awareness and the importance of preventive checkups and early disease detection,” said Glusac yesterday.
As they emphasize, the goal is to draw attention to the increasing number of cancer patients and to engage the public in self-examinations, regular checkups, and disease prevention.
“‘Daffodil Day’ is a traditional campaign that happens all over the world, including here, and we are happy that we will once again share our experiences with our citizens, present the work of our association, and draw attention to the problems that oncology patients face throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Even at this moment, there is a shortage of several basic cytostatics in Oncology. More than a thousand people are still on waiting lists for medication. Hundreds can’t even get on the waiting list because the medication they need which has been prescribed by the attending oncologist has not been approved by the Solidarity Fund’s commission. They are buying the medicine themselves, with no possibility of reimbursement, and the prices of these medicines are extremely high, several thousand BAM per month. The list of medications has not been revised for more than six years, even though around the world, and even in neighboring countries, this is done several times a year because new, modern medications are coming to market,” stated the “Renesansa” Association.
A member of the “Renesansa” Association, Alma Sehic, emphasized that awareness of breast cancer is still not at the level it should be.
“Although day by day, and as time goes by, awareness of breast cancer prevention is increasing. I advise all women that self-examination is very important and that every woman should go once a year for a breast ultrasound or mammography because a disease discovered on time is very treatable,” said Sehic.
