Kition Sports Centre, Larnaca, Thursday, 26 January 2023
[/P]I am truly moved to be here today among those with whom we have fought a difficult battle, in order to save lives, in order to keep the country's economy on solid foundations, in order to stand with businesses in general, with workers, but above all with people. We owe all this to those who have been called front-line heroes. To our doctors, our nurses, our paramedics, to all those whose decisions were implemented by another special group of our compatriots, the scientific collaborators, this highly qualified staff, the professors who were our advisors, the President and members of the Medical Association who joined forces with the state and produced the best results.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the former Minister Konstantinos Ioannou and the current Minister, if I did not mention the Director General of the Ministry and of course all the collaborators.
I remember when I was obliged to address the people on painful measures every line I wrote, every thought I put on paper at the same time I felt a control of conscience if we had the right to deprive the people of their freedom. But the choices were not many. We took tough measures, stood up for the people and were vindicated.
I want to thank, to express my gratitude to all of you health professionals in a due tribute for your decisive contribution to the management and response to the pandemic.
Through the knowledge, sensitivity, high sense of responsibility, unparalleled diligence and professionalism demonstrated by all of you, you responded with competence and overcoming the risks in dealing with a multitude of incidents, whether they concerned the hospitalization and care of patients or the information and enlightenment of citizens.
And this, despite the difficulties and adverse conditions faced by the need to manage an unprecedented global health crisis.
Being on the front line of the battle, demonstrating self-denial and self-sacrifice, you emerged as the protagonists of our collective effort and were rightly described as the heroes of the front line. Some have called you the unsung. Everyone knows who you are, you were present and therefore no one could consider you to be in obscurity.
And you should feel truly proud, as we are of you, because you fully carried out your high duty, first and foremost to your fellow man and then to your Service.
It is for these reasons that the State and the citizens as a whole feel grateful, with today's honour being the minimum return for your invaluable contribution during the period in question. And certainly not only during the period in question because you continue to offer and we have a high index in terms of the level of health in our country.
At the same time, it is a recognition of the high and significant work you have been doing over time in terms of defending, ensuring and effectively providing public health.
The pandemic health crisis and the difficult conditions it created, has once again highlighted the value of health as a commodity.
A crisis that tested health systems, governments and societies around the world and to which our own small country was able to respond better than countries with stronger and longer-lasting health systems.
And as I have already mentioned many times, the successful operation of the GHS was also evident in the response to that crisis, where the facts might have been very different in terms of the cost of human lives, the level of hospital services provided or the costs that citizens would have had to bear.
These achievements in the management of the pandemic, and I repeat, are due not only to the implementation of the YESY, but primarily to the superhuman efforts of the scientific, medical, nursing and paramedical staff of our country, to our scientific advisors, to the efficiency of the administrative structure of the Ministry, to all of you, to prudent political management, but above all to the discipline and patience shown by our people.
In your superhuman efforts, the Government did not fall short in policies to strengthen your own work, but also to support those affected by the crisis.
More specifically,
- We strengthened the necessary infrastructure by expanding the Famagusta General Hospital so that it can function as a reference hospital, at a cost of more than 3 million euros, and we built a second intensive care unit at the Nicosia General Hospital.
- We made available to everyone, not only free hospitalisation, but also free provision of both tests and vaccines, at a cost which, up to last month, exceeded EUR 280 million.
It is significant that according to the latest statistics, our country - and this should be noted and you should also feel proud of what our country is achieving - compared to EU member states, has the lowest mortality rate, with the fewest lockdown days.
- I would add to this, the special sponsorship schemes to support businesses, workers who were seriously affected by the pandemic, and the unemployed, for the benefit of 220 thousand people and 28 thousand businesses, at a cost of more than EUR 3 billion.
- I would add to this, the special sponsorship schemes to support businesses, workers who were seriously affected by the pandemic, and the unemployed, for the benefit of 220 thousand people and 28 thousand businesses, at a cost of more than EUR 3 billion.
As the World Bank itself states in its 2022 report, our country's economic management during the pandemic was exemplary, forecasting high growth rates, already recorded at 5.8%.
Taking this opportunity and having referred to international organizations, it is with great satisfaction that I welcome the establishment of the World Health Organization's Country Office in Cyprus, which I consider as a reward for the policies and practices that our country applies in the field of health, always based on the evidence-based scientific basis.
The Regional Office of the World Health Organization in charge of infectious diseases will be located exclusively in Cyprus and will cover the countries of the Mediterranean basin and South-Eastern Europe, composed of Cypriot experts, as well as an external expert of the Organization.
In this context, it will contribute to the further strengthening of relations with the World Health Organization and to the upgrading of Public Health, both in our country and in the wider region.
With the presence here of the Regional Director of the Organization, Dr. Hans Kluge, I would like to thank him warmly for the recognition of the momentum that our country has developed in the areas of research and excellence in the field of Health.
Tonight's tribute is no less than the State's minimum due to all of you who, overcoming fears, limits and endurance, have given our country the right to be proud of its successful response to one of the worst pandemics to hit humanity.
On behalf of the State, society and myself personally, I would like once again to express my grateful thanks.
(PM/IC)
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