Minister of Health Zoran Stankovic attended yesterday the handover of Japanese donation in equipment to the Novi Sad health centre within the project "Improvement of screening and prevention of breast cancer in the Republic of Serbia".

Stankovic said that the donated mammograph is worth approximately €70,000 and announced that 39 medical institutions in our country will get modern equipment for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

Serbia has high death rates from breast cancer because of the lack of a serious health screening system that would allow early detection of the disease, the Minister warned.

He expressed gratitude to the government and the people of Japan for the donation, adding that it will significantly improve the health of women in Serbia and reduce mortality from breast cancer.

Japanese Ambassador to Serbia Toshio Tsunozaki explained that the aim of this project is to increase the number of women taking breast examinations.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) organises courses on the early detection of breast cancer for healthcare professionals from Serbia, he added.

Tsunozaki pointed out that the total amount of Japanese donations to Serbia has surpassed the sum of €200 million, of which over €22 million went for the health sector.

Mayor of Novi Sad Igor Pavlicic expressed gratitude to Japan for the donation and said that it will significantly improve health care of women in Novi Sad.

In addition to analogue mammograph, the donation also includes chambers for dry film developing, negatoscope and a CR system.