President Milanović Receives Croatian Society for Liver Diseases Delegation on Liver Cancer Awareness Month

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received in his Office a delegation of the “Hepatos” Croatian Society for Liver Diseases from Split on the occasion of Liver Cancer Awareness Month. Every year in October, the Hepatos Society undertakes efforts aimed at further increasing public awareness of the benefits of early detection of the disease.

At the meeting with the President of the Republic, representatives of the “Hepatos” Croatian Society for Liver Diseases told President Milanović that liver cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer in the world and the fourth leading cause of death among cancer-related deaths, and that in Croatia, on average, about 480 people receive a liver cancer diagnosis each year. They emphasized that during the Liver Cancer Awareness Month of October their goal is to articulate as clearly as possible the latest information from a recent expert conference with international participation, during which it was pointed out that liver cancer is a growing public health problem, both globally and in Croatia, where the number of newly diagnosed patients has increased fivefold compared to 20 years ago.

It was mentioned at the meeting that the “Hepatos” Croatian Society for Liver Diseases based in Split is a non-profit organization founded in 2000, as the first society in Croatia to provide assistance to patients with hepatitis and other liver diseases. They explained that the purpose of their activities is to prevent the occurrence and spread of the disease, reduce stigma and raise the quality of life of patients and their families by following high standards of action.

Attending the meeting with the President of the Republic were President of the “Hepatos” Croatian Society for Liver Diseases Tatjana Reić, Society volunteers Mira Baras and Ante Reić, and representatives of the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County Branch Koraljka Polak Živković and Marija Tomek. Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka Žarković was alongside President Milanović at the meeting.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek