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" Children are the symbol of the eternal coexistence of love and duty", the British writer Mary Ann Evans once wrote, capturing in a single sentence the importance of our children for our world and its future.
Our children are our tomorrow, the true meaning of life, which is why we must strive on a daily basis to ensure their health, well-being and prospects.
It is for this very reason that I am particularly pleased to be here tonight among people who share the same worldview and who have as their primary concern and purpose in life the protection of our children's health.
A truly beautiful event organised by the Association of Friends of Preventive Paediatrics (APP), as part of this year's annual information campaign, which aims to support its work and raise public awareness of its charitable activities.
The Centre for Preventive Paediatrics is a recognised institution, a reference point for preventive medicine in our country and an ally of the efforts made by the state to promote and protect the health of the child population.
The long-standing support it has provided and continues to provide has contributed and continues to contribute positively to the upgrading and promotion of Public Health through the implementation of three screening programmes aimed at pregnant women and newborns. The Prenatal Screening Programme for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities carried out during the first trimester of pregnancy, the Neonatal Screening Programme for the early diagnosis of metabolic abnormalities and the Neonatal Hearing Screening Programme, aimed at the early detection and diagnosis of congenital hearing loss.
As is well known, the Centre's high quality services are offered completely free of charge to the entire population and the State covers part of the Centre's budget needs through a grant provided for this purpose. The remainder of the coverage of the Centre's operating needs is met through philanthropic action by sponsors and supporters of the Centre. It is as part of this effort that tonight's musical evening is being organized. I am convinced that such initiatives promote noble causes and raise awareness.
I would therefore like to take this opportunity to assure you that the Ministry of Health has always supported and will continue to support efforts in this direction.
As part of its policy on prevention and recognizing the importance of early prenatal screening, the Ministry of Health has secured approval through the Council of Ministers, in its proposal to extend the Neonatal Screening Programs with an additional 8 diseases, for a period of 3 years and, after evaluation, for an additional 2 years. The laboratory part of the programme will be implemented by the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (INGC) and the Américos Argyriou Centre for Preventive Paediatrics. The clinical part will be undertaken by the Archbishop Makarios III Hospital while the Ministry of Health will be the coordinator of the Programme.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Government attaches great importance to the health sector and particularly to policies and actions related to prevention. Drawing on the expertise of the medical community and health professionals, we are working to meet citizens' expectations for high-quality health services by strengthening hospitals, ensuring equal access to treatments, and promoting preventive measures. Our goal is unimpeded access to quality health services for all, as well as access to innovative treatments and medicines.
The Ministry of Health supports all actions and initiatives that have prevention, early and effective treatment at their core. Prevention must become a culture and a way of life as it prevents human suffering and leads to significant savings of funds in Health Systems, funds that can be invested in new treatments
For these very reasons, the Ministry of Health continues to upgrade and promote population programmes, including implementing a preventive vaccination programme for children against the human papillomavirus HPV.
Friends,
Since children are the future of a country and the prosperity and progress of a society is directly linked to their health and survival, any intervention in the health sector in terms of disease prevention and health promotion among the child population is a major investment for the future of our country. At this point, I would like to congratulate and thank the organizers of tonight's event, the Association of Friends of the Center for Preventive Pediatrics and the Board of Directors of the Center, for their dedication and the great humanitarian and scientific work they do in the field of protecting and promoting the health of our children.
At this point, I would like to thank the organizers of tonight's event, the Association of Friends of the Center for Preventive Pediatrics and the Board of Directors of the Center, for their dedication and the great humanitarian and scientific work they do in the field of protecting and promoting the health of our children. It is indeed with great pleasure that we support the efforts of the Association of Friends of the Center for Preventive Pediatrics. As a token of our support to the Friends Association and the Centre, we, as the Ministry of Health, will offer the symbolic amount of 600 euros. Your actions do not only complement the work of the State but also give us examples of initiative and volunteerism which elevate us as a people.
Thank you to all those present who support with their presence and not only, the work of the Centre, I also thank the renowned artists who with their beautiful melodies will take us to ports of optimism for our children and their families.
I wish everyone a beautiful evening, with beautiful emotions, as befits such events.
(DK)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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