-
.
- Русский
It is a great honour for me to address the press conference organised by the International Thalassaemia Federation on the exchange of best practices in the field of haemoglobinopathies between Cyprus and Thailand.
A press conference, which will be the starting point of a very important cooperation between the International Thalassaemia Federation and the Praboromarajchanok Institute of Public Health, for the continuous education of Health Professionals in the prevention and treatment of haemoglobinopathies, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.
At the outset, I would like to congratulate the International Thalassaemia Federation for its tireless efforts to empower, continuously educate and keep global interest at the forefront of thalassaemia issues. For its daily struggles to ensure the right to quality services for people with thalassaemia and to support with expertise and scientific evidence, through its wide network of academics and researchers in the field, the promotion of recommendations to Governments and national health bodies in 62 countries of the world as defined by the World Health Organization. This is evident from the dozens of Memoranda of Understanding that the Federation has concluded with the governments of its member countries.
We are proud as a state of your outstanding contribution to the field of public health, which was honoured in 2015 by the World Health Organization with the award of the "Dr. Lee Jong-Wook Memorial Prize" in 2015.
Our small state, through difficult but purposeful struggles, with the strength of the unity of all relevant agencies of the state and society, holds the scepter in the global struggle for the prevention, control and management of thalassaemia, and it is an honour for us that our country presents an extremely good image through its science and practices for other countries.
Dear and valued colleagues,
Taking the opportunity to attend today's press conference, I would like to announce with great pleasure and satisfaction that, with the strong support of the Ministry of Health, the construction of the new Thalassaemia Centre and the renovation of the existing site at the Archbishop Makarios III Hospital has been approved by the Board of Directors of the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO), following a decision of the Council of Ministers. A landmark project for the public health sector, the cost of which amounts to €4,380,335 + €876,067 (maintenance) plus VAT. This project involves the creation of an independent Thalassaemia Centre with the construction of a new floor and, at the same time, the renovation of the existing space to accommodate the needs of the Paediatric Endocrinology Clinic.
At this point I would like to thank both the State Health Services Organisation and the Pancyprian Anti-Anemia Association, whose offer and contribution is very important for the implementation of the project.
The Ministry of Health, friends, attaches great importance to the provision of upgraded services to the Cypriot patient. This is why it has proceeded to accredit the laboratories of the Hospital Blood Banks in the entire scope of the immunohaematological tests they perform. Today, the Hospital Blood Banks Service is the first network of accredited laboratories in Cyprus and Greece. They have a single Quality Manual and follow common procedures/protocols and trained staff.
Their primary objective is to provide high quality services to patients while maintaining high laboratory performance in blood transfusion. They have fully automated pre-transfusion patient screening systems and provide a wide range of immunohaematology tests.
In addition, the Ministry of Health, with the valuable assistance of the National Thalassaemia Committee, has proceeded to implement the National Thalassaemia Strategy. Strategy, which addresses issues of population control and prevention, clinical management of Thalassaemia Patients, the social welfare framework, the promotion of research and the upgrading of the Thalassaemia Centre, nationwide, as a Centre of Reference, for the benefit first of all of the Patients but also of the society in general.
Our main objective is to update the Thalassaemia programme and to ensure the quality of life of the patients through a holistic approach to their needs. We are, after all, in a period in which important scientific developments in the prevention, treatment and recovery of both thalassaemia and sickle-cell anaemia have emerged or are being pursued. In this fight for the prevention and optimal management of thalassaemia, each of us has an important role to play in areas such as raising public awareness, updating existing legislation, ensuring quality of services and providing seamless support to health professionals.
Collaborations and networking with other countries strengthen the collective effort of the scientific community and organised patients. Health professionals with their scientific training and human approach together with organised patients strengthen their daily struggle for a better quality of life.
With these words, I would like to reiterate my personal support, as well as the commitment of the Ministry of Health, to remain on the side of patients with thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, offering, to the extent possible, all the resources for the benefit of their health and integrating into our newly established national health system the necessary resources, accessible and available to patients, within the framework of a sustainable and robust GHS.
In closing, I wish to congratulate you for your dynamic presence and wish you every success in your future goals.
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
