ONE IN four pre-school aged children experience episodes of wheezing, and by the time kids are school-aged, eight to ten per cent will be suffering from lung conditions, it emerged yesterday.
Asthma is the most common medical condition in Cypriot children, and serious respiratory diseases are the cause of over half of neonatal admissions.
The statistics were cited yesterday at the launch of the Breathing Life Trust, a
new world-class child respiratory centre at Nicosia’s Makarios children’s hospital.
The launch was attended by the President of the Breathing Life Trust, John Michael Mouskos, Health Minister Christos Patsalides and health professionals.
“The centre has been created to give hope to children with breathing disorders. We wish to give them the strength to fight back and enjoy their lives and inspire the community to undertake such projects,” Mouskos said.
“This has been a significant achievement, because it provides world class facilities to the general public. After years of effort, we are very proud to share this achievement for the Breathing Life Trust which will benefit both children and the community.”
He thanked the Archbishop, Health Minister Patsalides and the Doctors at Makarios III for their inspiration and support.
Patsalides also addressed the launch, thanking the donors for their great contribution to the children of Cyprus. “Just five months ago a paediatric heart surgery opened here, and it is good to see that paediatric care is increasing… When the Breathing Life project was first explained to me, I took it as a personal obligation to ensure any bureaucratic obstacles to quick implementation should be removed,” he said.
“I am confident that what we have here will be a reference point for all of the Eastern Mediterranean.”
The plan to establish the ward as an international centre of excellence began in April 2004, when Mouskos founded the Breathing Life Trust. Since then, donors have given GBP£200,000 to the project. In addition, support also came from Makarios III Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, and the Ministry of Health, who joined together to provide the necessary space, staffing, facilities, equipment and training for the centre.
The aim of the project is fourfold; to equip the hospital with world class facilities to diagnose and treat child respiratory and pulmonary problems; To bring together a team of experts who can advise and share their knowledge on life threatening respiratory conditions; to conduct ground breaking research into child pulmonary epidemiology and aetiology (disease and its causes) and finally to provide world class teaching of the next generation of specialists.
Asked about future projects, Mouskos added “We won’t stop here. There is no reason why Cyprus cannot develop a healthcare system as good as in London.” He conceded that reform of the healthcare system would not be straightforward, but insisted that it was essential. “There are lots of issues to contend with, and I think we really need to focus on the people who need treatment, rather than the structures (of the healthcare system)”
One such planned project is Mouskos’ “Art for Life” program, in which children are encouraged to produce works of art on the theme of fellow children’s illnesses, in the hope that it will raise awareness of certain illnesses. “This will really spearhead future healthcare.” Mouskos added.
