Honourable Ladies and Gentlemen of Parliament,
Honourable colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure and emotion that we inaugurate today the Transplant Clinic "Dr. George Kyriakides" of the Nicosia General Hospital of OCYPY. Another clinic upgraded to better serve our patients and provide high quality services by remarkable and renowned scientists. The Transplant Clinic is dedicated to the memory of the excellent scientist George Kyriakides, who associated his name with raising awareness of organ donation for transplantation among our fellow citizens. Dr. George Kyriakides studied medicine in Israel and the USA and specialized in general surgery and organ transplantation, particularly kidney transplants. In 1986 he returned to Cyprus, where he set up and ran the Paraskevaideios Transplant Centre in Nicosia and put Cyprus on the world map, having the most transplants per population in Europe.
Dear Maro and Antigoni Kyriakidou, it is no coincidence that he is considered the founder of transplantation in Cyprus and with this action the state pays tribute to George Kyriakides for his selfless contribution to society.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Along with the upgrading of the Transplant Clinic and the increase of beds, the Ministry of Health and the Transplantation Council are helping in this effort to provide upgraded services to our fellow kidney patients. In addition, the creation of software for organ allocation from posthumous donors in the field of transplantation, the introduction of innovative surgical techniques such as laparoscopic nephrectomy, allows for faster recovery, shorter hospitalization of the donor, quicker return to daily routine, and the introduction of protocols for monitoring transplant patients. Also, the amendment of the legislative framework, the modernization of the Cyprus Legislation as well as its harmonization with the corresponding European Directive, and the creation of the National Registry of Potential Organ and Tissue Donors, are the tools used for the development of the Transplantation Clinic. It is also important to mention that the Transplantation Clinic "Dr. George Kyriakides" is supported by the Laboratory of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, which in October 2022 obtained an accreditation certificate from EFI.
To date, the Transplant Clinic has successfully performed:
- 263 Transplants
- 179 Living donations
- 9 incompatible transplants
- 8 Pediatric transplants
In Cyprus today more than 1000 patients are on dialysis, while only 20 kidney transplants are performed annually, which ranks our country in 16th place in terms of living donor kidney donation, out of the 85 countries that provided data. Our country also ranks 48th in relation to kidney transplantation from a posthumous donor, according to the data available for the year 2020. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Health and the Transplantation Council, always in a climate of cooperation and dedication, are making continuous efforts to upgrade and develop existing procedures and projects. In addition, as the Ministry of Health, we have signed a memorandum of understanding with the corresponding Ministry in Spain to cooperate on transplantation issues. Already the Medical Services and the Transplantation Council have been in contact with the National Transplantation Agency of Spain and are in cooperation both for the exchange of expertise and for the planning of actions for the better organization of transplants in Cyprus.
I take this opportunity to convey to my fellow citizens, once again, the authentic universal value of organ donation for transplantation, which everyone should embrace by demonstrating their philanthropy.
Through this act, we will create a society with less inequality and more justice, resulting in a positive impact and an impact on the lives of our fellow human beings, offering our fellow kidney patients a second chance at life.
I wish the management and staff of the Transplant Clinic success and continued development, thanking them warmly for their contribution, which is a true testimony of love and humanity, providing quality of life to nephrotic patients.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In conclusion, I would like to thank you all, the DG of the Ministry of Health, the Management and Directorate of OCYPY, all health professionals as well as the patients' associations for the excellent cooperation we have had during these 19 months where we have achieved so much for the health sector and I assure you that I will continue to be by your side in the front line for the benefit of our patients.
Thank you!
(AF)
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