Kick-off Conference for the Before Time Project

The Kick-off conference took place at the Hilton Hotel – Podgorica on 10 December 2024, organized by the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro (ME). The project aims to enhance cervical cancer prevention and early diagnosis by increasing the use of services like vaccination, education, counseling, and screening, promoting community-based over institutional services.

Attendees:

• Project partners: Institute of Public Health Zadar (HR), Health Center Mostar (BA), Public Health Center Tivat (ME), Mediterranean Economic Foresight Institute (HR), Croatian Institute of Public Health (HR)
• Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro
• Capital City representatives, NGOs, Montenegrin Medical Journal, and media members.

Highlights:

• Opening by Snežana Barjaktarović Labović, Acting Director of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro, emphasizing the importance of prevention.
• Presentation of epidemiological data by Alan Medić (Croatia), Kristina Bevanda (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Marija Raičević (Montenegro).
• Closing presentation by Ivanka Matas, Institute of Public Health Zadar, on HPV testing, followed by a Q&A session.

The conference marked a significant step in launching the “Before Time: Empowering Women and Communities for Protection Against Cervical Cancer” project.