Cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern, and alarming data from the Tuzla Canton show that insufficient use of regular gynecological examinations, Pap smears, and HPV screening often leads to late diagnosis of a disease that is, in fact, entirely preventable.
Speaking about prevention, the Assistant Director for Medical Affairs of the University Clinical Center Tuzla, Prof. Dr. Igor Hudić, emphasized that preventive measures are divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Primary prevention, he explained, focuses on preventing the development of the disease itself.
“In addition to HPV vaccination as the most important preventive measure, primary prevention also includes responsible sexual behavior, strengthening the immune system through regular physical activity and proper nutrition, as well as smoking cessation,” Prof. Dr. Hudić noted.
He particularly highlighted the importance of HPV vaccination as the cornerstone of primary prevention.
“It is important to emphasize that in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the HPV vaccine is available and free of charge. The vaccination program covers children, adolescents, and young people aged nine to twenty-six, of both sexes. While many countries limit vaccination programs to females, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has included both males and females, which represents a significant step forward in comprehensive cancer prevention,” said Prof. Dr. Hudić.
As an example of personal responsibility and confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine, Prof. Dr. Hudić referred to his own family, noting that both of his sons have been vaccinated. He emphasized that HPV infection is not linked exclusively to cervical cancer, but is also associated with certain head and neck cancers as well as anorectal cancers, the incidence of which has increased significantly over the past decade and is directly related to sexual behavior.
As a positive example in the fight against cervical cancer, Prof. Dr. Hudić highlighted Australia, where HPV vaccination coverage has reached approximately 80 percent of the young population. According to available data, Australia is expected to declare cervical cancer practically eliminated within the next two to three years, as the incidence rate is projected to fall below four cases per 100,000 women.
In contrast, data from the Tuzla Canton present a far less favorable situation. Last year alone, 33 newly diagnosed cases of invasive cervical cancer were recorded at the University Clinical Center Tuzla.
Secondary prevention focuses on the early detection of cervical cancer and its precancerous changes, primarily through regular gynecological examinations, Pap smears, and HPV screening.
At the Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic of the University Clinical Center Tuzla, 3,300 Pap smears were performed last year, averaging around fifteen tests per day. However, Prof. Dr. Hudić emphasized that the responsibility for secondary prevention does not rest solely with the University Clinical Center Tuzla. Health centers, public gynecological services, and private healthcare institutions that are part of the women’s healthcare system also play an active and essential role in this process.
“The data showing an extremely low percentage of women who regularly undergo Pap smears and routine gynecological examinations are particularly concerning. The most alarming figure is that in the Tuzla Canton, fewer than 20 percent of women aged 20 to 69 have participated in cervical cancer screening. According to available data from the Institute of Public Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an average of 18 women die from cervical cancer in the Tuzla Canton each year,” Prof. Dr. Hudić warned.
As he emphasized, the University Clinical Center Tuzla does not limit its activities to Cervical Cancer Prevention Week alone, but works continuously throughout the year. Education is carried out through everyday clinical practice, preventive examinations, and organized lectures in high schools, with the aim of providing young people with verified, scientifically based information about the safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine. This approach is intended to prevent young people from relying on misinformation spread through social media by individuals without formal medical education.
In this context, Prof. Dr. Hudić also appealed to the media to address this topic consistently and responsibly, stressing that meaningful results can only be achieved through sustained, year- round engagement. Prevention, he concluded, must become an integral part of family awareness, through open conversations about HPV vaccination, Pap smears, HPV screening, regular gynecological examinations, and sexually responsible behavior. This issue concerns all generations and must not be reduced to the observance of a single week each year.
