On the occasion of the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo and other institutions organized the closing conference.

The Deputy Minister of Health, Dafina Gexha Bunjaku said that the fight against breast cancer does not end with this campaign. Rexha Bunjaku said that this disease is a challenge that is faced together.

While he promised support and improved services for those affected by this disease, Rexha Bunjaku said that these are not just promises but a moral obligation.

The Acting Officer at the National Institute of Public Health, Ardita Baraku, said that the power of awareness, commitment to actions and united actions for support and solidarity are three essential issues in the fight against breast cancer.

She emphasized that all activities in this field affect awareness of early treatment and that they go in favor of patients.

The Director of Radiology at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Shkëndije Nuza, said that the conclusion of this campaign is an important moment to raise awareness of breast cancer.

She emphasized that the purpose of this campaign is to inform, educate and mobilize those affected by this malignant disease to overcome this challenge.

The Director of Oncology at KKUK, Ilir Kurtishi, said that during this year, about 24 percent of cancers in this clinic are breast. He emphasized that this year there is a slight increase in the number of cases with this malignant disease, which he said may exceed the number of those affected compared to last year. Referrals to other countries for treatment during this year from the Oncology Clinic, according to him, is zero.

Meanwhile, the director of Plastic Surgery, Violeta Zatriqi emphasized that in the framework of free breast reconstruction for women affected by cancer, about 70 surgical interventions and 100 specialist visits were performed.

Zatriqi emphasized that these interventions, in addition to physical integrity, also affect the restoration of hope for women operated on for breast cancer.

She quoted the words of a woman who had breast reconstruction done in Plastic Surgery.  

"After the removal of one breast, I did not feel myself. I didn't feel like I was me. Now that I've been operated on, I'm complete, I'm what I used to feel," Zatriqi said.

Meanwhile, the director of Health, Izet Sadiku, said that given the importance of women in Kosovar society, the breast cancer awareness campaign will continue all the time.