State Secretary of Health Perisa Simonovic said that cervical cancer is the second commonest form of cancer in women in Serbia and the fourth cause of death.

Speaking at a press conference on the occasion of marking the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, Simonovic said that 1,300 women in Serbia are diagnosed this condition every year, adding that according to cervical cancer incidence Serbia is on the top in Europe.

The State Secretary underlined the importance of women getting their regular gynaecological check-ups on time in order to increase their chances thanks to early diagnosis.

As part of the “Serbia against Cancer“ programme, considerable funds were set aside for screening programmes, Simonovic noted, adding that every woman between 25 and 69 years of age is entitled to a full annual gynaecological examination.

Djurdja Kisin, head of the Centre for the Promotion of Health at the Public Health Institute Milan Jovanovic Batut, explained that cervical cancer is a serious public health issue in Europe, where this disease is diagnosed in 60,000 women every year, of which 30,000 die.

Kisin stressed the importance of prevention programmes because in 50% of cases the disease can be prevented that way, adding that preventive activities must be more intense.

Young women between 19 and 25 should visit their gynaecologist every second year, and when they turn 25, once a year, she said.