The urgency of this issue was highlighted during the "Knowledge, Awareness, Life" conference, held in conjunction with World Cancer Day, where oncologists urged the public to engage in regular preventative screenings, noting that early detection can lead to effective treatment.
Education Minister Barbara Nowacka announced ongoing efforts to develop programs aimed at increasing public awareness of healthy lifestyles and prevention.
She outlined that introducing new subjects or revising existing ones in the educational curriculum is a long-term process, with visible outcomes expected by 2026 at the earliest.
Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna stressed the significance of adult education in this context, pointing out that parents are responsible for 40 percent of delayed cancer diagnoses in children.
Leszczyna's remarks clearly outlined the need for a comprehensive approach to health education, reaching various social groups to decrease Poland's cancer mortality rates, which are currently higher than the European Union average. She affirmed the government's commitment to fostering a society more educated in health matters.
Leszczyna praised Poland's medical infrastructure, highlighting the country's access to excellent doctors, researchers, and modern technology. However, she acknowledged the persistent challenge of high cancer mortality rates, attributing the need for improvement to a lack of public trust in state initiatives.
The health minister committed to building on the successes of previous administrations, focusing on long-term success in healthcare improvement.
Further emphasizing the role of education in prevention, Leszczyna and Nowacka discussed strategies for integrating preventative health knowledge into schools.
This includes addressing adult education and launching targeted programs such as "Safe and Aware," which aims to enhance access to in vitro fertilization, including for cancer patients, broaden prenatal screening methods, update guidelines on pregnancy termination for health or life-threatening conditions, and ensure access to emergency contraception.
Meanwhile, deputy lower-house Speaker Monika Wielichowska shared a personal story about the importance of early diagnosis after her son was diagnosed with leukemia, highlighting the critical role of vigilance in detecting early signs of cancer.
This initiative reflects a broader effort by the Polish government to prioritize long-term health outcomes over immediate successes, with a focus on education and prevention as key strategies in the fight against cancer.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP
