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Breast Cancer Prevention
In the
United States,
it is customary for women over the age of forty
to receive annual mammograms for early detection
of breast cancer. In
Lithuania,
many women have not yet received a single
mammogram. For many years, access to free
mammograms was limited to women who were
referred by a physician or were over the age of
50. Otherwise, women were charged approximately
50 LTL ($19 US), (monthly minimum wage, 300-500
LTL) for the procedure at public clinics or 100
to 1,000 LTL in private diagnostic centers. In
2007,
Lithuania’s
health care system began to provide free
mammograms to all women between 49 and 60 years
of age. Nevertheless, women in small towns and
rural areas often lack transportation to
mammography facilities that provide free
testing.
LML Annual Mammogram
Program
Without education and timely
screening,
Lithuania’s
survival statistics were dismal with as many as
one in two women tested dying from the disease.
LML first responded by distributing pamphlets
promoting early screening. Next, LML initiated
an annual free screening program in 2003. LML
coordinates free transportation, courtesy of the
local governments, to bring women from smaller
towns and rural areas to oncology centers in
Vilnius,
Klaipėda,
Šiauliai, Panevežys and
Kaunas.
Special provisions are made to accommodate women
with disabilities. From 2003-2008 this project
provided screening mammograms to over 1,300
women annually, diagnosing several women in time
for life-saving treatment. To date, this
program reached over 7,800 disadvantaged women
across
Lithuania
from these cities, districts and surrounding
regions:
Adomynė, Akmenė, Anykščiai, Ariogala,
Avižėnai,Avižų, Babtai, Balsiai,
Biržai, Daugiliškis, Dambrava, Didžašalis,
Didžioji Riešė, Diliauskai, Dolmenkava,
Dominikova,
Eišiškė,
Elektrėnai Ežerskė, Garliava, Gipiškaičiai,
Griešiai, Grigiškė, Jonava, Joniškis,
Jurbarkas, Kaišiadorys, Kalneliškis, Kaunas,
Kėdainiai, Kelmė, Klaipėda, Kretinga, Krinčinas,
Kudirkos Naujmiestis, Kupiškis, Lazdijas,
Lentvaris, Maišiagala Makiškėliai, Mariampolė,
Mažeikiai, Meškaliauskio kaim., Molainiai,
Molėtai, Naujoji Akmenė, Nemenčinė, Neringa,
Nureonys, Paberžė, Pakruojis, Palanga, Pandelys,
Panevėžys, Pasvalys, Paupėniai, Plungė,
Prienai, Radviliškis, Ramygala, Raseiniai,
Raubonys, Raudondvario, Rokiškis, Šakiai, Šakių
Šilalė, Salačkonys, Šalčininkai, Saločiai,
Saločkoniai, Šiauliai, Šilainiai, Šilalė,
Šilutė, Širvinta, Skaidiškės, Skuoda,
Švenčionys, Švenčionėliai, Tauragė, Telšiai,
Ukmergė, Utena, Vaišvydava, Vilnius,
Vilkaviškis, Visaginis, Vistyčiai, Žibartoniai,
Žilpamušis, Zujūnai, and
many small neighboring villas.
LML’s initiative inspired other
similar outreach programs such as
Avon’s
breast cancer programs and Nedelsk! (Don’t
Delay!) to also travel widely across
Lithuania’s
countryside to thirty-one towns and villages,
supported by our active participation.
Recognizing the lack of adequate
healthcare access among recently immigrated
Lithuanian women in Chicago, LML arranged for
the Cook County Mammogram bus to provide free
testing and screening at the Balzekas Museum in
Chicago.
Suicide Prevention
Sadly, Lithuania’s
suicide rate is one of the highest in the
world. As reported by Lithuania’s State Mental
Health Center
www.vpsc.lt, in 2005 the suicide rate
reached an alarming 39 per 100,000 residents.
In his article, Justin Webster, cites it to be
the leading country in suicide (www.insightnews.com).
In comparison, the rate among European Union
nations ranged from 10 - 20 per 100,000.
Lithuania’s suicide rate in rural areas was
twice as high and the rate among males is five
times higher than females. Approximately 1500
Lithuanians commit suicide every year.
According to mental health experts, each tragic
death touches at least 5-7 others. Given these
facts, public health experts consider suicide an
“epidemic” in Lithuania.
Alarmed by these
statistics, LML is appealing to donors to help
us fund a suicide prevention program,
specifically to address suicides among
Lithuania's youth. Without effective prevention
programs, Lithuania can not be expected to
overturn the dismally high rate among teens and
young adults (age 15-24). In general, most
suicides among young people are preceded by
several attempts or clear warning signs that
require immediate attention.
To decrease
suicides among Lithuania’s youth, LML will
support the Youth Psychological Aid Centre (YPAC),
www.jppc.lt, or Jaunimo Psichologinės
Paramos Centras. Established in 1993, YPAC is a
non-government, non-profit organization that
reaches out to youths across Lithuania. Working
with only 12 staff and 120 trained volunteers,
YPAC’s innovative programs include:
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Youth crisis
hotline
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Mobile Crisis
Intervention Group
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Internet
counseling program with “Letters to a
Friend”
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Social and
Psychological Counseling
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Website and
Information Program
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Day Care Center
for At-risk Children and Families
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Suicide
prevention concert “Choose Life” in 2006
attended by 10,000
To learn more about
the suicide epidemic in Lithuania, visit:
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