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- Русский
It is with great pleasure that I welcome the 19th General Assembly of the Confederation of Europa Uomo Europe, which is organised in our country by Europa Uomo Cyprus and is also an indication of the important work it is carrying out. I welcome to Cyprus the delegations of all the countries that are with us today.
Prostate cancer, according to the relevant statistics, is the most common oncological disease in the male population, since one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, and mainly over the age of 50. The key issue, as with all cancers, is prevention.
Early detection of prostate cancer significantly reduces mortality from the disease, since its detection at an early stage results in high treatment success rates.
And it is on this dimension that we need to focus and join forces and work together, and it is in this area that Europa Uomo Cyprus' most important success is to be found.
Within this framework, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Cancer, we are working - and I hope soon we will be able to announce this publicly - with the aim to include as soon as possible a screening test, the PSA, in the population screening programmes in Cyprus, as there is in the standards of breast screening for women which is currently in place.
At the same time, and taking into account the people-centred nature of our governance, I would like to use today's opportunity to reiterate that we are firmly committed to strengthening and upgrading the General Health System. During the election campaign we had a meeting with Europa Uomo Cyprus and we have included in our governance programme - and I have asked the Minister of Health to present to the Council of Ministers as soon as possible how to proceed - the creation of a specialised reference centre, making use of the existing centres, and how to make synergies for prostate cancer issues.
It is important to have such a centre, making use of the existing ones, because it will help to a significant extent so that And it is through your actions that we have all together achieved a lot, but we need to do more, so that through prevention, especially talking about a cancer that through prevention can be treated.
As a former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, I have had the opportunity to participate in several events of Europa Uomo Cyprus and specifically in the Blue Route in Limassol over the last two years, and I know first-hand the important work that you are doing, the vision of the Board of Directors of the Association, which I congratulate for its actions and campaigns, which rightly focuses on prevention.
My presence here today is an indication of the state's appreciation for the important work you are doing and I want to assure you that we are partners in this effort and the Republic of Cyprus will be a partner in your efforts.
(PM/MB/SX)
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