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Good evening,
Thank you for your presence here. The aim today is to inform you about a government initiative which is being implemented following an inspiration given to us by Mr. Panagiotis Paschalakis, Founder and President of the non-profit organization Safe Water Sports, whom we thank warmly for his substantial contribution and for his presence here today. Today we will present to you the progress in the implementation of the government's actions, which are part of its initiatives to promote safety in the aquatic environment, the prevention of drownings and marine accidents.
Unfortunately, drownings and marine accidents are no exception for our country. According to official data from the Health Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Health, 464 people have lost their lives due to drowning over the last 20 years, with an annual average of 26 deaths over the last five years. The above figures show that 50% of these deaths involve people aged 65 and over, while drowning is the third most common cause of death in children under 10 - after road accidents and cancer - and remains one of the top five causes of death for people up to the age of 30. It is also significant that about half of the drowning deaths in Cyprus involve tourists and non-residents.
Considering the above, the implementation of targeted actions towards prevention and safety could not but be placed high as a priority in our people-centred governance.
The interventions we present today are the result of inter-ministerial cooperation and coordination of various implementing agencies and preparation of a specific Action Plan, which was approved by the Council of Ministers on 14 February 2024.
In the context of the preparation of the Action Plan, the existing scope of policies and actions for water security was mapped, the need to enrich and update it was identified, and it was considered important to strengthen cooperation between the various implementing agencies, especially where there is a conflict of interest.
For its preparation, as I have already mentioned, the inspiration was the actions of the non-profit organization Safe Water Sports, which are already being implemented in Greece on a pro bono basis since 2015, in cooperation with the Greek Government, and with public and private sector bodies, and aim to inform, educate and raise public awareness on issues related to water safety.
We warmly thank once again Mr. Paschalakis for his excellent cooperation, which contributes to the effective promotion of the Action Plan. The Action Plan includes 7+1 interventions, to which I will briefly refer:
1) Operation of the Port Police Information System
The operation of the Information System has already started since February 2024.
In this system, specific data is entered which is then disseminated as information on the website of the NGO Safe Waters Sports as well as on the free Safe Water Sports App for public information.
At this stage, information concerning beaches (size, beach organisation, staffing locations of lifeguard towers/posts, any access for disabled persons, etc.), water sports rental companies and hospitals, among others, has been entered.
2) WebsiteSafe Water Sports & Safe Water Sports App
Through the specific information tools of the NGO, which have been piloted in Cyprus since last February, useful information is available free of charge in Greek and English, which is drawn from the Information System.
3) Safe Swimming Programme for the acquisition of swimming skills for children up to 12 years old & Educational Programme for Safety in the Aquatic Environment
The Minister of Education will inform about these two programmes, which are already being piloted by the Ministry of Education, later on.
4) Modernisation of the Legislative Framework
The existence and implementation of an appropriate legislative framework is a prerequisite. A Bill and Regulations aimed at modernizing the existing legislation governing the operation of swimming pools
A Bill and Regulations aimed at reforming the operation and inspection of recreational vessels have been submitted to the House of Representatives (BoD) as of 25 April 2024, in order to enhance the safety and development of recreational boating based on international practices.
A Bill and Regulations aimed at reforming the operation and inspection of recreational vessels have also been submitted to the BoD on 6 June 2024, in order to enhance the safety and development of recreational boating based on international practices.
In parallel, and with the aim of ensuring the provision of diving services safely and in accordance with international standards, a specific bill has been prepared and submitted on 16 April 2024 to the Legal Service for legislative drafting.
5) Establishment of a National Drowning Prevention Day
A National Drowning Prevention Day has been established for the first time. For this purpose, July 25 has been designated as the World Day. The Department of Health has scheduled a press conference for this day to highlight this important and preventable public health issue
6) Third Age Awareness Campaign
The aim of the campaign which the Department of Health has undertaken is to provide basic safety advice for this vulnerable age group.
To this end, printed material has been prepared and is available in various languages (Greek, English, French and German), while audiovisual material will be broadcast on social media and on radio and television stations in the near future.
7) Accident Observatory
Finally, in order to record fatal accidents or injuries in the aquatic environment, the creation of a single database including data collected through the Police's computerised system has been initiated. The information will be used to prepare and issue a report for public information.
The Secretariat for Coordination and Government Project Support has under my supervision the coordination of the Action Plan.
The intention of the Government is, where and when the need arises, to enrich the Action Plan with additional interventions in cooperation with stakeholders.
To this end, a special inter-ministerial committee has been set up since February, both to monitor the progress of the implementation of the existing Action Plan and to make recommendations for its further development.
I would like to thank here the members of the Committee from the Ministries of Defence, Justice and Public Order, Interior, Transport, Communications and Works, Education, Sports and Youth, Health and from the Deputy Ministries of Shipping and Tourism for being here with us. Without the contribution of the NGO Safe Water Sports this initiative would not have been prepared and implemented. It is for this reason that today we are strengthening the cooperation between us by signing a Memorandum of Cooperation.
Through the Memorandum of Cooperation, the scope of coordination between us is more specifically defined, which includes, among other things, the transfer of expertise to the Republic of Cyprus in relation to international practices in the field of water safety, without any financial burden for the state.
In conclusion, I would like to thank once again Mr. Paschalakis, the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Dr. Athena Michailidou and all colleagues in the Council of Ministers who embraced the initiative and the technocrats in the implementation of the Action Plan, and whose actions made possible the start of its implementation and the significant progress in its implementation in such a short period of time. Everyone's effort is worth it even if it is to save a single child, an elderly person, a life from unjust loss.
Thank you very much.
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For the presentation of the Deputy Minister click here.
(PM/AS/AF)
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