The Pancyprian Association of Nurses and Midwives (PASYNM), on the occasion of the attack on a nurse at the Pafos hospital's NICU, expresses its strong disapproval and strong concerns about the adverse implications and consequences of the incident and calls on the State to protect health professionals. Otherwise, he notes, he will denounce the Cyprus State to international bodies.
In an open letter, the Association says this event raises huge issues involving the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, the Police and the Ministry of Justice.
Because, it is noted, on the relevant issue we are coming back for the umpteenth time through our letters/announcements since 2013, "we want to stress that it is time for the state to take all appropriate measures to protect health professionals who not only have obligations towards citizens, patients and their families, but also have rights as individuals and as employees."
"We credit, the state for some initial measures taken in Accident and Emergency Departments but these, it seems, are not enough as there are frequent incidents of violence in health care settings involving physical, psychological and verbal violence from patients and their surroundings. No complaints and demands can justify such behaviour," it adds.
The WHO states that the World Health Organization (WHO) together with the International Labour Office (ILO) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) have since 2002 prepared a joint document which refers to actions to be taken both by governments legislatively and by employers to prevent and respond to such incidents.
It points out that the Cypriot state needs to address the issue comprehensively and enshrine in law and in practice the safety of health workers. Otherwise, it is noted, we as the Professional Association of Nurses and Midwives must denounce this attitude of the state to all international bodies (International Labour Office, International Council of Nursing, International Confederation of Midwives) and the corresponding European bodies, without prejudice to all legal rights of appeal to the institutions of the European Union.
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