President opens first specialised breast centre

Cyprus’ first Specialised Breast Centre was opened at Nicosia general hospital on Tuesday night by President Nicos Anastasiades who said the primary issue at hand is the individual and the promotion of health throughout one’s lifetime.

“The introduction of projects such as this, centred around the individual, and in this case, women’s health, is the least we owe our country’s people,” he said.

“The operation of the first specialised breast centre in Cyprus is a reality. This innovation, which is also a prerequisite for a modern state, comes at a very significant point in our country’s health sector.”

As is well known, he added, two very significant steps in this sector were taken recently.

“With the rest of the political leadership, it was possible to adopt a road map for healthcare reform in Cyprus,” he noted.

“Also, in the same context, the Council of Ministers approved and submitted to the House of Representatives the two bills for the autonomy of public hospitals and the introduction of the national health system.”

The cooperation achieved for the operation of the specialised breast centre can only act as a catalyst for the cooperation of all stakeholders in the intended reforms in healthcare, Anastasiades said.

Health minister Yiorgos Pamboridis marked the day as “historic”.

“Breast cancer in Cyprus is the most common form of cancer, with some 550 new cases and 100 deaths per year.”

Representing cancer awareness advocacy group Europa Donna, Disy MP Stella Kyriakidou said “we are here to give the Cypriot woman what she deserves and is entitled to – access to quality healthcare when embarking on the difficult journey of breast cancer”.

Survival rates for women treated in one are 30 per cent higher than those without access to such a facility, she said.

“In 2015, we lost 72 women to this disease,” Kyriakidou said.

“If the operation of this centre reduces the number of women we lose by 30 per cent, what better gift could we imagine?”