The traditional, already the 10th Educational day of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA, was held virtually on the 17th of November. Around 600 gynaecologists, nurses, cytopathologists, histopathologists, epidemiologists and other collaborators of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA joined this day.
The participants were greeted by the Minister of Health Tomaž Gantar: »We are proud of the results, that could not have been reached without the effort of all involved in the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA – the management of the NP ZORA, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana and all of the operators working on the field.” The participants were also greeted by Acting Director General of the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana Andreja Uštar, Director General of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia Marjan Sušelj, head of WHO Country Office in Slovenia Aiga Rurane, head of the COVID-19 expert group of the Ministry of Health Bojana Beović and head of National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme and Registry ZORA Urška Ivanuš.
Welcoming speakers of the 10th Educational day of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA
In the first section the lecturers presented the functioning of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA in the last year, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the same day as the Educational day was held, the WHO launched a global strategy towards the elimination of cervical cancer. Vitaly Smelov from the European office of the WHO joined us and shared a few words about the launch of the strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the second section some of the novelties of National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA were presented (renewal of the information system, reorganization of colposcopy). Afterwards Urška Ivanuš held an interview with prof. Alojz Ihan about the information and disinformation about COVID-19.
In the third section, world-renowned Canadian epidemiologist prof. Eduardo L. Franco held a lecture about HPV vaccination during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and prof. Mario Poljak held a lecture of HPV testing during the pandemic. Their lectures were followed by lectures about HPV vaccination in Slovenia.
Because of the interesting, relevant discussions with our special guests, and only few minor technical problems, this marathon educational event took place for 8,5 hours without any real breaks for the participants. Despite that, participants evaluated the event with an average mark of 4,4 (on a scale from 1-5), compared to last years mark of 4,3, when the conference was held live.
Medical Director of the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana Irena Oblak and Acting Director General of the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana Andreja Uštar thanked the team of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA, members of the Scientific Council of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA and others that made this event possible in a special letter: »We were happy to participate in yesterdays event. We attended the debates and presentations of foreign and Slovenian lecturers with great interest. Based on the professionalism of the participants and the participles that are included in the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA, we are positive, that Slovenia will be one of the first countries to reach the targets of the WHO for the elimination of cervical cancer. Your energy and enthusiasm are truly noticeable and we wish your team good collaboration in the future and that together you will reach the best results.«
Until next year!
Click here to download a photoreport Light up the world, accompanying the launch of the WHO Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.
Minister of health Tomaž Gantar attending the 10th Educational day of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA
Foto: Ministry of Health
