Tashkent, 2–5 May 2011 — United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with National Association on Breast Cancer «In the Name of Life» holds three-day training on the specifics of breast cancer for more than 25 practicing experts and professors in Uzbekistan.

The three-day training will cover the issues of prevention, early detection, and treatment of breast cancer, a widespread oncological disease. The training is designed for practicing experts in the field of oncology, mammology, chemotherapy and radio-diagnostics. For the first time training also covers professors of Tashkent Medical Academy and of Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education, so that they could further transfer their knowledge to medical students.

As an important part of its current Country Programme in Uzbekistan for 2010–2015, the Fund is supporting series of activities to prevent some widespread diseases of reproductive system, including breast cancer. The programme envisages training for practitioners, raising awareness of decision-makers, mass-media and general public, and production of informational materials, among others.

Starting fr om October 2010, UNFPA has joined hands with National Association on Breast Cancer «In the Name of Life» to support training for practicing specialist with focus on early detection, referral and psychological counseling of patients who have undergone surgery for breast cancer.

As in many countries worldwide, breast cancer is among leading causes of female mortality and morbidity in Uzbekistan. The disease remains a common and frequently fatal, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in the Europe and developing countries. Every year around 1,150,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer and 600,000 die fr om it.

In Uzbekistan wh ere population is over 28 million with women representing close to half of it, the issue of prevention of non-communicable diseases causing high morbidity and mortality is of highest importance. Unfortunately, according to national data the number of newly detected cases of breast cancer tends to increase. The statistics show average of 3–5 years life expectancy after surgery.

The training will be facilitated by two international experts — recognized professionals in the field of oncology diseases in the USA, Professors Anna Zujewski and Julie Gralow.

UNFPA Representative in Uzbekistan Mr. Karl Kulessa says: «UNFPA is proud to support and be associated with efforts to put cancer prevention in the public reproductive health mainstream services, wh ere we have tended to focus until now more on issues like family planning, obstetric care, HIV prevention and others»