The collective responsibility of our community is to enhance cervical cancer prevention, particularly by promoting timely screening programs, as highlighted during a lecture held in the Parliament in recognition of European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.

According to the Parliament, the lecture aimed to increase awareness and provide essential information on the significance of prevention and regular health check-ups.

The presentation by the director of the Institute of Oncology, Sanja Lekić, conveyed a powerful message about the importance of cervical cancer prevention and emphasized the need for greater awareness regarding routine preventive examinations and HPV vaccinations.

“The necessity of enhancing educational initiatives and raising awareness was underscored to ensure the long-term health and protection of women in Montenegro,” the statement indicated.

Lekić noted that on a global scale, women are predominantly affected by specific malignancies.

She expressed concern that the emergence of the disease is increasingly observed at earlier ages among women, particularly during their reproductive years when they are pivotal in sustaining society through childbirth and family responsibilities.

“The lecture emphasized that it is the duty of the entire community to actively contribute to enhancing prevention efforts, mainly through the execution of timely screening programs, which aim to detect asymptomatic malignant diseases within a healthy population,” the statement elaborated.

The discussion pointed out that HPV vaccination in Montenegro commenced in 2022, marking a historic milestone for the nation, as it is a significant advancement, providing an opportunity for future generations to minimize the incidence of the disease to the lowest possible levels.

The Parliament’s statement noted that through various initiatives of this kind, it is continually working to elevate social awareness and stresses the importance of prevention and early diagnosis as essential factors for successful treatment.

Cervical cancer is highlighted as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality from malignant diseases among women in Montenegro.

As reported by the Parliament, the Clinical Center of Montenegro disclosed that in 2023, there were 93 newly diagnosed cases of cervical cancer presented to the Oncology Council.

“In 57 cases (61 percent), cervical cancer was diagnosed at an inoperable stage of the disease, which illustrates that most cases are identified at advanced stages, making treatment challenging and uncertain, thereby reducing the likelihood of a cure,” the statement remarked.

It is concluded that substantial reductions in morbidity and mortality can be achieved through widespread utilization of available preventive measures, including the National Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and the HPV vaccination initiative.

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