The Women’s Health Empowerment Program (WHEP) represented in Sarajevo today the action of handing out first aid packages for women who have recently undergone operations fro breast cancer, and an action for providing free mammograms for 700 women in 13 rural areas in BiH.
Nela Hasić, the Director for the WHEP Program, and Danuta Moon, the honorary President of ‘Race for the Cure’ and the wife of the US Ambassador to BiH Patrick Moon addressed reporters and warned that breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, and according to estimates, every year at least 1.400 women in BiH are afflicted with this disease.
Raising awareness of this malignant disease is necessary, because regular check-ups are the best form of prevention.
Last year in September the ‘Race for the Cure’ was held, and the fee for participation was 7 KM. Thanks to the money that was raised, around 45.000 KM, packages for 1.400 women who have recently undergone surgery and mammograms for 700 women from rural areas is possible. These are rural areas where women cannot get mammograms and where mammograms are costly and the waiting time is long.
It is very important to show women that they are not alone. Many of them, after the operation, are not aware of what products they need to continue their treatment. Thus, we have become resolved to help them. In the packages that we have prepared, there are creams, cotton removable prostheses, St. John’s Wort oil, salve, fish fat, exercise balls, and brochures where they can learn more about the disease’, said Danuta Moon.
She mentioned that it is necessary to continually raise awareness of women of this illness and encourage them to go to regular check-ups.
Nela Hasić said that the project of free mammograms will begin in April.
“We are first going to Velika Kladuša, then to Bosanski Petrovac, Jajce, Zavidovići, Tarčin, Jablanica, Široki Brijeg, and Goražde. Apart from the free mammograms, we will hold an educational workshop for the women. It is very important to continuously speak about this disease, and to have the affect so that women would continue to have these exams. This is the only way that the mortality rate can be reduced’’, said Hasić.
She added that thanks to the exams, breast cancer is detected early in many women, and their lives are saved.
The free mammograms will be available to women over 40 years old who do not have health insurance and who are socially disadvantaged.
The next ‘race for the cure’ will be held in September of this year.
