“Mom, be healthy!” is a message that will resonate across more than 360 schools and kindergartens throughout Croatia during “Pink October.” Through personalized educational leaflets prepared by the Association of Women Treated for Cancer SVE za NJU, children will remind their mothers of the most important thing – taking care of their health. This year’s campaign edition was officially launched at Berek Elementary School, where students collectively delivered a heartfelt appeal to their mothers: attend a breast exam and take a step that could save your life.
“Most mothers will say that health comes first, but they often put their own well-being last. That’s why we have chosen their children as allies and ambassadors of health – they are the ones who can best remind their moms that taking care of themselves matters not only for their own sake, but also for those who depend on them. Our mission is for the emotional aspect of the project to encourage families to reflect on healthy living, while also making positive values in children from an early age,” emphasized Ljiljana Vukota, Executive Director of SVE za NJU.
Breast cancer is diagnosed in every ninth woman in Croatia each year, and in 1% of men. While some risk factors cannot be controlled, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases by up to 30%. Regular self-exams are especially important – a simple step anyone can take to monitor changes and act promptly if necessary.
“The national ‘Mom, be healthy!’ campaign demonstrates how important health care is, not only for women but, for the wider community. Even motivating just one person to schedule a preventive exam can save a life – and we believe there will be many more,” said Vesna Šerepac, representative of the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, and Director of the Department for Education.
Doc. Dr. Želimir Bertić, member of the Public Health Institute of Bjelovar-Bilogora County, also commented on the project, highlighting that associations like SVE za NJU are a key part of the prevention system and public awareness efforts. Through their work, they educate citizens and encourage timely health check-ups, significantly contributing to reducing mortality from breast cancer and other diseases.
In addition to the appeal to mothers, the leaflet contains information about cervical cancer, materials for fathers, and teaches children healthy habits in an age-appropriate way. Traditionally, for the ninth year in a row, students at Berek Elementary School released pink balloons, symbolizing the fight against breast cancer.
This year, the association has an additional goal: collecting data on health-related habits. The official campaign website includes a short survey with four questions that all women are encouraged to answer to contribute to the project’s development. More information about the “Mom, be healthy!” campaign and ways to prevent several types of cancer can be found on the website, as well as on the campaign’s Facebook and Instagram pages, where all activities are regularly updated.
