I.Metshin: "Our residents' health is our greatest treasure"

(Kazan, KZN.RU, July 14, by Adel Galiyev). Health screening of the population is proceeding in Kazan. To date, 45,986 people have been examined, accounting for only 24.9% of the 185,000 residents scheduled to be screened. The main reason for such low numbers is the residents' low awareness of the importance of medical checkups. This was stated by the head of the Kazan Health Department Ramil Akhmetov at a Business Monday meeting.

Ramil Akhmetov said that medical checkups are designed to detect such serious conditions as cancer and cardiovascular disease at an early stage and calculate the risks of their development. The speaker said that the first phase of screening aims to identify five localizations of malignant tumors and diseases of the eye and circulatory, endocrine and digestive systems.

"The effectiveness of screenings is high enough," said Akhmetov citing the statistics of this year's checkup, according to which 10,884 health problems have been found, including 6,016 suspected diseases and 260 cases of suspected malignant tumors.

"Last year, 620 cases of suspected malignant tumors were found, of which 93 cases were confirmed as cancer.  Of all the identified cases of malignant tumors, 55% were 1st and 2nd stage cancers," said Ramil Akhmetov and noted that the earlier cancer is detected, the greater the chance of successful treatment and recovery. In conclusion, he once again stressed the importance of clinical examination and called upon all residents due to be screened, to do so.

Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin agreed that there was a need to promote public awareness. "Screening awareness campaign is abysmal! We are responsible for what happens to the residents of Kazan. Modern medicine allows nipping a disease in the bud when it is found early; this is true of even cancer. When an illness is neglected, it is much harder to treat. This is is a truism," reminded the mayor.

"The health of our residents is our greatest treasure, and we will fight for it in every possible way. Calls for health checkups should be heard from every available source!" the mayor called upon the services concerned to step up the screening awareness campaign. 

It will be recalled that health checkups are free of charge and are covered by compulsory health insurance. They are conducted by specialists using a variety of up-to-date instruments and laboratory equipment.