Mirza Mustafagić and the “You Can Be That Person Too” Campaign for Oncology Patients | Balkan Diskurs
Ramo Tučić
January 11th, 2024
Gaining people’s trust is a challenging task, but once achieved, it should be utilized in the most positive way possible. This is how influencer Mirza Mustafagić begins his story, which is well-known to the public in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond. He is an advocate for young people and all those who express and stand by their opinions – a rare and valuable quality today that should be encouraged. Mirza is the force behind the “You Can Be That Person Too” campaign, supporting the Oncology Department of the University Clinical Center (UCC) in Tuzla.
It sometimes seems that there are limits to what a single person can accomplish on their own. However, this story from Tuzla, with Mirza at its center, shows that good people can bring about significant progress, even with small steps. He initiated a campaign to benefit oncology patients at the Tuzla UCC, where he says the linear accelerator, a crucial radiation therapy machine, has been non-functional for almost a year, and the conditions under which oncology patients receive treatment are unfit for human beings.
His commitment to the fight for oncology patients was initially sparked when he was summoned to an emergency meeting at the UCC by Irfan Halilagić, the Prime Minister of the Tuzla Canton. “This culminated in all of us coming together to assist the daily clinics of the Oncology and Hematology Department. The conditions in which patients receive chemotherapy, sitting on wooden chairs or waiting on the floor due to a lack of chairs, are not normal,” explained Mirza.
He emphasizes that anyone can be that person, but circumstances must be improved. “I absolutely agree that there is budgeted money for these things, and it’s not my job to deal with this, but that’s no excuse for allowing patients to suffer. If we wait for the situation to improve on its own, it certainly won’t,” he asserted.
Oncology patients, likely out of desperation, sent him messages detailing their current situation, which he decided to publicize. This triggered a flood of responses describing similar or even worse experiences. Leveraging the size of his audience, he proposed to his colleagues that they take action, giving rise to the “You Can Be That Person Too” campaign.
“I have to say, I’m proud of the campaign’s results. Over 300,000 BAM [150,000 euros] was raised in just two weeks through donations from over 4,000 legal entities and individual donors, along with contributions from city budgets. Additionally, a sizeable portion of these donations includes supplies and equipment donations, so at the end of the whole story, we’re going to publicly disclose the total amount and exactly how it was used,” said Mirza.
He added that a portion of the funds will go to centers in Zenica, Banja Luka, and Mostar. “It’s certain that the Tuzla Community Foundation will procure all the necessary equipment, and work has already begun. The company Deling Invest is preparing the space, and I believe that the entire project for the Day Clinic will be completed in the first quarter of this year. Additionally, with the resources we’ve received, we will undertake renovations and improve the conditions for patients in the Hematology Department, followed by the Oncology Department at the Tuzla UCC,” said Mirza.
This is not the only initiative consciously or unconsciously initiated by Mirza. When asked if he expected a response, he replied that he had thought about it, as high expectations often lead to great disappointments in everything, including this. However, he believes that when you act with your heart, it always works out, every time.
“I’m lucky to have an audience of over 90,000 people, which is truly a blessing. My stories and posts, as well as those of my colleagues, are more read and watched than many platforms today, so I make an effort to use that. Gaining people’s trust is challenging, but if you earn it, then it should be used in the most positive way possible. I’m just a person who shares a particular story with the public, and everything else is in the hands of the people who follow me. I express my daily gratitude to God for that trust and for the people who support me in these stories,” Mirza added.
He explains that ideas for initiatives often come to him while driving, which was the case with this one: “I remember it well, it was at the toll booths in Kuzmin when I was coming back from Belgrade, and as foreigners say – the rest is history.”
Asked how demanding influencer engagements are, he responds that it depends on the perspective you take.
“This job is demanding, not so much physically, but it’s very tough mentally. You’re constantly exposed to all kinds of people sitting behind their keyboards, thinking they know everything and can comment on anything that comes to their mind, regardless of whether it’s true or not. I really believe that only people who are mentally stable can handle this job. On the other hand, I definitely know from the experiences of people close to me how difficult it is to work for a certain sum of money and be disrespected by an employer or boss. Fortunately, that’s not the case in this profession. Also, as demanding and burdensome as the job may be, if you approach it with the right attitude, it’s a wonderful job where you get to meet a lot of people every day and encounter fantastic people from the business world. Many opportunities arise, so when everything is added up, I’m happy, and this is my life,” explained Mirza.
He describes himself as an ordinary person, just like anyone else. “I love spending time with loved ones, traveling, and unwinding at the end of the day. Throughout the day, I meet a lot of people, and what I often need is just to change clothes and relax with a TV series or a book,” he said.
Regarding how young people like him have a voice and a desire to change the world in today’s world, he states, “Desire and opportunity are two different things. Many have the desire but lack a voice, and vice versa. Fortunately, my opportunities allow me to have both, and I’ve decided to use them. I truly believe that my purpose in this life is to do something that will make life better for others, as well as for myself. Sadly, many people are afraid to express their opinions, but I’m not. We live in a democratic state and society, and believe me, it’s wonderful to have a stance and have the courage to express it. We can never know how far someone’s voice can be heard, and I believe in trying things that have been proven to make a difference in a particular community. I’ve always been a supporter, not only of the youth but of everyone who expresses their opinion and stands behind it. It’s a rarity that’s really valuable today and should be preserved.”