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Malignant tumorous diseases cause about one fourth of all deaths in Hungary.
 From June 1st, 2006 the Lily Programme will be launched again in Hungary - the programme aims to increase the attendance of organised cervix screening tests. The initiative, that was first launched in September, 2005, proved to be one of the most effective screening programmes of all times. Owing to the programme the number of ladies attending the screening test increased radically, according to the statictics it grew from 4.2% to 8.5%, that is, it doubled. Participation was encouraged by a prize drawing as well, in which 17549 ladies took part during the first period of the campaign. The first prize, an automobile went to a lady from Debrecen. The biggest result of the first period of the programme is that 51% of the participants of the recent screening have never took part in a gynaecological examination. According to an estimate 20-30% of those concerned go to private gynaecologists for this test, however, most of them never take part in it.
This time the six-month Lily programme organised by the National Public Health Authority and Lilly Hungary, the main sponsor, tries to address the public with a widespread PR and marketing campaign, which is an unusual practice in this field at present. Beside advertisements on the television and radio, and in newspapers, popular personalities whose surname is Zsuzsa will also contribute to the campaign. It was not an accidental choice: the name Zsuzsanna means lily. Zsuzsas represent different age brackets, thus, we hope, they will really be able to address all age-groups.
Zsuzsa Varga, singer: "Why did I join the Lily programme? Because life and health cannot be advertised enough. Because I would like to convey a message to young girls in their twenties. Are you past 25? Then it's time to visit your doctor regularly. It's really that simple."
Zsuzsa Rácz, writer, journalist: "I go to a cervix screening test each year. Cervical cancer can be discovered in a very early stage with regular screenings - I recovered fully thanks to the tests, and I'm glad to take part in this campaign. My friends learnt from my example that it's not worth skipping this examination, because it's good to be alive and we'd like to enjoy each other's company for a long time."
"Our goal is to double the number of ladies attending the screening test again by the end of the Lily II programme" - said Mihály Kökény, National Public Health Commissioner, at the press conference convened to introduce the programme.
Budapest, 8 June, 2006
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