Pristina, October 28, 2022
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the traditional manifestation “Early detection – Survival”, organized within the International Month of the Fight Against Breast Cancer.
October, Prime Minister Kurti said, is dedicated to women who fight resolutely for life, even a happy life and a long life, that is, a dignified life. October is also dedicated to those women who make other women and our entire society aware, he added.
As a government, we have secured a sufficient budget to cover the list of essential medicines, including the treatment of people affected by breast cancer, said Prime Minister Kurti.
In the last meeting of the government, the 102nd in a row, an additional 4.2 million euros were allocated. We have worked on raising the quality and advancing health services for diagnostics, where even in the budget for 2023 there will be additional investments in diagnostics, but also in special packages for people affected by cancer, he added.
The Prime Minister expressed deep solidarity and gratitude for all those women and girls who faced the serious disease of breast cancer and are continuing to face it. The battle, as the prime minister further said, is a joint one and it will continue.
Prime Minister Kurti’s full speech at the traditional manifestation “Early detection – Survival”:
Honorable president of the Republic of Kosovo, Your Excellency Mrs. Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, Honorable ex-president Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga,
The honorable founder of the “Jeta Vita” association, Mrs. Nafije Latifi,
Honorable Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice, Mrs. Donika Gërvalla Schwarz and Albulena Haxhiu,
Honorable Acting Minister of Health, Mrs. Dafina Gexha Bunjaku,
The honorable chairman of the Association of Oncologists, Mr. Arben Bislimi,
Honorable ambassadors and other diplomats,
Much loved, you fighters of life who never stopped,
Dear attendees,
Ladies and gentleman,
Sisters and brothers,
I thank President Osmani for gathering us here today and at the same time I thank all those who work tirelessly in raising awareness and treating this disease.
October means breast cancer awareness month. Being marked in this form, it helps to increase attention and awareness for the earliest possible detection and care for this disease.
October is dedicated to women who fight resolutely for life, even happy life and long life, that is, dignified life. October is also dedicated to those women who make other women and our entire society aware. Each of us knows many women who themselves have gone through this challenge, but they continue to talk and help others, how to survive and how to live by defeating this disease.
Statistics show that the spread of breast cancer is 1 in 8 women, but it also occurs in men, but with a lower risk rate of 1 in 100 cases.
These figures are large, but we must support them institutionally, even if they were only a few. Unfortunately there is no form of prevention but there are many ways of healing and overcoming. The earliest possible detection increases the chances of life, but at any stage of detection one can hope for success and such lucky cases are increasing every day. It is very inspiring to see women from all social classes go from being patient survivors to passionate activists for this cause.
Solidarity here is vital and a great lesson for each of us. This obliges us all the more to get involved, to offer our unsparing support as a society and as institutions. In this direction, we are expected to do a lot and we must do a lot. As a government, we have provided a sufficient budget to cover the list of essential drugs, including the treatment of people affected by breast cancer.
At the last meeting of the government, the 102nd in a row, we allocated an additional 4.2 million euros. We have worked on raising the quality and advancing health services for diagnostics, where even in the budget for 2023 there will be additional investments in diagnostics, but also in special packages for people affected by cancer.
Above all, in this noble mission, it is not only us as the government, we are together with the whole society, starting from the associations of people affected by cancer, with the civil society in general, with the institutions, with the Presidency, the Assembly, the Prime Minister’s Office, the ministries, agencies and others.
There were no shortage of activities either that at first glance may seem symbolic but in fact are very significant, as was the the lighting of the Government building with the pink symbol, as well as the activists and health workers who enlightened us by informing us in greater detail, on how to help this category, how to work with priority and what is most needed.
Our gratitude is deep for all those women and girls who faced the serious disease of breast cancer and are continuing to face it. The battle is shared and it will continue. We will support them and be with them.
Thank you.
Last modified: October 31, 2022