Holistic and Preventive Oncology Symposium at Ankara Etlik City Hospital
Ankara, February 4 – The Ankara Etlik City Hospital hosted a ‘Holistic and Preventive Oncology Symposium’ today, marking ‘February 4th World Cancer Day’. The event, held at the Ankara Etlik City Hospital Conference Center, gathered prominent figures from the health sector, including Ankara Provincial Health Director Ali Niyazi Kurtcebe, Ankara Etlik City Hospital Coordinator Chief Physician Assoc. Dr. Mustafa Sırrı Kotanoğlu, and Ankara Etlik City Hospital Oncology Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Lütfi Doğan, alongside numerous doctors.
During the symposium, Ankara Provincial Health Director Ali Niyazi Kurtcebe highlighted the accelerated efforts in preventive health services. “Especially in the last one and a half years, with the appointment of our Minister, Professor Doctor Kemal Memişoğlu, and in line with the ‘protecting, developing, and producing’ health model announced by our President, our work in preventive health has gained significant importance and speed within the vision of a Healthy Türkiye Century,” Kurtcebe stated. He emphasized the substantial increase in the number, quality, and capacity of services provided at primary healthcare centers, known as family health centers, and healthy life centers. “We are trying to make our family health centers much more visible and strengthen the relationship between our citizens and these centers,” he added.
Approximately 900,000 Citizens Screened for Cancer Last Year
Kurtcebe further elaborated on the expansion of healthy life centers in Ankara. He noted that the number of such centers increased from 9 to 12 at the beginning of last year, with plans to reach 15 by the end of the current year. These centers house Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening, and Education Centers (KETEM). “We have 20 KETEMs. Through these KETEMs, we conducted cancer screenings for approximately 900,000 of our citizens throughout last year,” Kurtcebe announced. He expressed an ambitious goal: “Our target is much higher numbers, to reach the entire target population that needs to be screened.”
The KETEMs currently perform screenings for three types of cancer: cervical cancer and breast cancer in women, and colorectal cancer for both men and women. Kurtcebe urged all citizens to utilize these facilities: “I invite all our citizens to our family health centers, KETEMs, and healthy life centers.” He also mentioned the extensive reach of primary healthcare services, stating, “Last year, over 20 million citizens benefited from primary healthcare services. They received examination, treatment, and diagnosis services at family health centers. In addition, nearly 30 million citizens were included in follow-up programs, including chronic disease screenings and cancer screenings.”
Source: https://www.dha.com.tr/yerel-haberler/ankara/ankara-etlik-sehir-hastanesinde-onkoloji-sempo-2812039
