Akel says Christofias’ health no cause for concern

AKEL yesterday sought to reassure the public over the state of health of its general secretary, Demetris Christofias.

The communist party’s offices yesterday assured the Cyprus Mail that Christofias was recovering well from bronchial pneumonia and resulting kidney complications.

In an official announcement on Sunday, Akel press spokesman, deputy Nicos Katsourides, said: “The state of Demetris Christofias’ health should not inspire any concern and he will remain at the head of the party for many years.”

Katsourides dismissed rumours suggesting that Christofias would be rushed overseas for a kidney transplant saying this was “something that will be decided on in the future.”

Katsourides said a transplant was seen as only one of several alternatives if the current treatment proved ineffective.

Christofias has been in hospital since December 22, after being diagnosed with bronchial pneumonia following a visit to London. During his treatment, Christofias suffered kidney damage, for which he is currently being treated.

Akel said this treatment was expected to continue for the next two weeks.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.