Bosnia and Herzegovina | Think Pink Zajedno Smo Jedno

Health Days

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the public health care system is decentralized due to the state constitution and there are practically no common health promotion or preventive programs at the national level. Cancer screening programs do not exist and as a result, mortality incidence rates caused by breast cancer are still high. Women in rural areas are even at greater risk of social exclusion, denied equal access to health care services, with limited economic opportunities, high unemployment rate, low incomes and poor health and education. Rural areas have more conservative attitudes and values for health issues. 

Within this project, the organization provides free mammogram checkups to women living in these areas, often with a lack of social and/or health insurance, along with the educational outreach, raising awareness about women cancers and the importance of regular and preventive checkups, as the only tool for early cancer detection. During Health Days, the organisation aims to provide free additional checkups, such as glucose measurement, blood pressure measurement, as well as other checkups (e.g. densitometry, Pap test). 

Through these events, Think Pink – Zajedno smo jedno establishes and strengthens cooperation between local society, breast cancer survivors’ NGOs, breast cancer survivors and medical institutions, medical professionals, from both, private and public sector, build lifelong professional and social relationships towards better and equal health care provision in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Health Days are implemented through the national network of partnering local breast cancer survivors’ organisations, established and lead by Think Pink – Zajedno smo jedno. Only in 2020, respecting all epidemiological measures and with a support of its partners from the business community, Think Pink – Zajedno smo jedno has organised 31 Health Day event in 25 locations countrywide, where 1574 women were provided with free mammogram checkup, 6 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 111 women are referred to additional medical checkups due to the suspicion to breast cancer and discovered tissue changes.

In 2022, mammogram check-ups took place in two phases – in May and in September and October. They have organized 38 Community Health Days, where 1927 women had free mammography. 

First Aid Packages

One of the organization's core activities is the provision of Post – Surgery First Aid Health Kits to every newly operated woman from breast cancer in the country. It has multiple benefits for patients going through this traumatic life situation. 

In cooperation with local partnering breast cancer survivors’ NGOs countrywide and health institutions, Post - Surgery First Aid Health Kits are delivered to oncology Centres and to partnering breast cancer patients’ organisations in different cities providing Post – Surgery First Aid Health Kits to newly operated women from breast cancer. Think Pink – Zajedno smo jedno, only in 2020, has provided 1350 Post-Surgery First Aid Health Kits to women operated from breast cancer in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Psychosocial Support Program

For more than a decade Think Pink – Zajedno smo jedno provides psychosocial support to breast cancer survivors and their family members through the network of local partnering breast cancer survivors NGOs across the country.

Through this program in the past years, the organisation has continuously provided needed support in 20 cities countrywide, reaching over 600 breast cancer patients annually. A range of different services are provided, from the group and individual sessions with a psychologist, through peer to peer support, yoga, meditation and Zumba classes, arts and crafts sessions, as well as thematic sessions with poets, organised visits to theatres and groups’ picnics in nature, with the aim to build capacities of women going through this vicious disease in different life segments. 

Since the pandemics and due to restriction measures in combatting new virus, the organisation has launched online activities, aiming to help its beneficiaries and citizens in general in these difficult times, providing them with tools and knowledge to address the health crisis, preserve mental and physical health and minimize the crisis impact on their everyday life. Think Pink – Zajedno smo jedno has launched online Yoga, meditation and fitness classes, Mental Hygiene activities and First Podcast for Women’s Health in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Think Pink Podcast, through which, in a form of short informational and educational videos with medical professionals (oncologists, radiologists, gynaecologists), psychologists, nutritionists, life coaches and fitness trainers, Think Pink – Zajedno smo jedno continues to pursue their mission. 

From March 2022, psychosocial support activities went from online format to traditional in person sessions, and the psychosocial support was launched to additional three cities. In the last year, psychosocial support was provided in 8 cities, reaching over 350 breast cancer patients.