ZAGREB, January 20, 2019 - The 12th annual edition of Mimosa Day was held in Zagreb's Cvjetni Trg Square on Saturday with an aim of raising the public awareness of the importance of cervical cancer prevention.
Addressing the event, which was launched by the Croatian Anti-Cancer League, the association's leader Damir Eljuga said that he was glad to present some encouraging figures about a drop in the incidence rate of this disease.
In the past, about 380 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer annually in Croatia, while last year the statistics dropped to 280 new cases.
Croatia is within the European average when it comes to cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates, Eljuga said.
This disease can be prevented by regular gynaecological exams, participants in the campaign said.
In developed countries, the widespread use of cervical screening programs has dramatically reduced rates of cervical cancer.
On Mimosa Day, mimosas are sold in the main squares of Croatian towns and cities to raise funds for the treatment of cervical cancer.
The national cervical and gynaecological cancer prevention day is traditionally commemorated on the third Saturday of January, by a public health action known as Mimosa Day.
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