President Milanović Receives Korčula-Pelješac-Lastovo-Mljet Cancer League Delegation on its 20th Anniversary

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received today a delegation of the Korčula-Pelješac-Lastovo-Mljet Cancer League, founded in 2002 to attend to the needs of the population of these islands in terms of preventive check-ups in the fight against tumours. The reception was held in the Office of the President of the Republic because the League is celebrating 20 years of activity this year and October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Speaking about the reasons why the League was founded and its activities, the delegation told President Milanović that check-ups were the last thing on the minds of the residents of these islands and they often ended up in hospital when the tumours had already progressed. Thanks to the League’s activity over the past 20 years, 31 thousand specialist check-ups were carried out among the residents. Each year approximately two thousand preventive check-ups on these islands are carried out in the organization of the Korčula-Pelješac-Lastovo-Mljet Cancer League resulting in there being no waiting lists in that area.

They went on to say that the so-called red referral slips are not necessary for these check-ups as the League foots the bill and the physicians are paid on a piecework basis. Thus island residents are given the opportunity to have a check-up at home without the need for a long drive to the hospital.  According to the League president Niko Violić, “the Korčula-Pelješac-Lastovo-Mljet Cancer League is the next best thing to the Pelješac bridge on these islands because people in need of help were connected by a bridge of love, empathy and personal sacrifice”.

They further said that up to 90 percent of the funds necessary are collected through various sales and participation in tourist and similar events, while just 10 percent are assured by local self-government units. Thanks to the League’s commitment, medical equipment valued at more than five million kuna was purchased, and four mammography units were purchased for Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

President Milanović expressed support for the League’s activity and to its members – more than five thousand of them – he expressed his gratitude for all they have done and are doing.

In the Korčula-Pelješac-Lastovo-Mljet Cancer League delegation in addition to the president Niko Violić, were vice-president Dr. Seka Palinić, member of the Presidency Dr. Berta Radovanović, president of Pelješac branch Marija Šundrica, president of Mljet branch Marija Sršen as well as League members Arminija Šeparović, Meri Pejović, Ante Mrgudić, Lenka Antičević, Dušanka Roso and Snježana Holovka.

Attending the meeting alongside the President of the Republic was the Adviser to the President for Education Jadranka Žarković.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas