Slovakia campaigns to halt smoking-related diseases

Slovakia has one of the lowest cancer survival rates in Europe and 23 000 new cases of cancer are registered every year in Slovakia. This number is predicted to increase over the next few years. But NGOs, the government and health care professionals are working hard to prevent this happening.

In Bratislava this week apples were exchanged for cigarettes, as one of the activities of the traditional European week against cancer. The cancer survival rate in Slovakia is approximately 50% - well below the EU average, according to the Eurocare report listing Slovakia among the five eastern European countries with the lowest rates. According to Dr. Siracka, president of the League Against Cancer in Slovakia - that makes public awareness campaigns important. Dr Siracka says:

"I saw the statistics from cancer registries. In some countries the death rates are higher than in western countries and I think that this is the consequence of gaps which existed in the information and education."

Slovakia's economy may lag behind some western countries but according to Dr Siracka, the lower cancer survival rate has little to do with access to modern technology and treatments.

"The scientific level in diagnostics and in treatment is very high and many new methods have been introduced to the treatment procedures and many cancer diseases are treated according to the most modern protocols."

There are known and unknown causes of cancer. Smoking is one of the very well known ones. Annually it causes 4 million deaths in the world. When we interviewed people on the streets of Bratislava, the most common answer was:

PERSON 1:"Yes I smoke... Sometimes it's just during the weekend, sometimes I smoke one or two a day"

PERSON 2: "I don't smoke"

PERSON 3. "I have smoked three years ago"

PERSON 4:"I smoke about seven to eight cigarettes a day" PERSON 5: "No smoking for me".

Slovakia has been gradually raising the prices of tobacco products since 1998. In August of this year once again, the prices rose by 10%. Dr. Sirácka from the League Against Cancer:

"Tobacco control is our priority, but I don't think that increasing taxes and prices of the cigarettes would help solve these problems. It is really great to fight against the tobacco industry, unfortunately many governments are corrupted by this industry."

There are many strategies for persuading smokers to give up the habit. There are warnings on cigarette packets, descriptive photos of the body of a dead smoker, and now even higher prices. But what would stop these Slovaks smoking?

PERSON 1: "My girlfriend doesn't want to tolerate it ..."

PERSON2: "Health is the main motivation, but it's an addiction, it's physical ..."

PERSON 3: "The fact that the cigarettes are now more expensive didn't effect my addiction, so I still smoke the same...To smoke or not to smoke..."

... that might be the question for some. Since August 2003 a pack of cigarettes can cost almost 2 Euros. Rising prices, and pressure from the EU to mount more health campaigns may help push Slovakia's cancer survival rates closer to those of Western Europe.