Day: August 26, 2022

Everything is ready for the launch of the evening work hours programme in public hospitals that will begin on September 5, the spokesperson of the State Health Services Organisation (OKYPY), Charalambos Charilaou, told CNA.

He noted, that, after the agreement reached between OKYPY and the doctors’ and nurses’ unions on July 11, everything is ready for the launch of the evening work hours programme. The agreement concerns the extension of the working hours of outpatient clinics and surgeries. More details about the programme will be given within the coming days, he said.

“The most important thing is that the goal to operate the hospitals during the evening hours has been achieved,” Charilaou said. People will be able to book their appointments, either through OKYPY’s website, or by phone. For online appointments, patients will make a request and within 48 hours an operator will contact them for the date and time of their appointment, he said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Ministry of Health announced on Friday a new monkeypox case, concerning an 18-year-old man, following a molecular laboratory test by the microbiology laboratory of the Nicosia General Hospital.

The 18-year-old man, with no travel history, has clinical symptoms compatible with monkeypox.

The man is hospitalized in very good clinical condition in the specially designed area of the reference hospital (General Hospital of Nicosia) for monitoring and further evaluation of his health condition.

It is added that, from the first moment all relevant protocols for the handling of suspected and confirmed cases have been implemented.

The Epidemiological Surveillance Unit has started tracing and informing the man’s contacts, the announcement, concludes.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ Health Ministry on Friday announced 16 deaths and 2,154 new COVID-19 cases for the week between August 19 and 25. The new cases were detected among 60,841 tests, while the positivity rate was at 3.54%.

Of the 16 deaths announced, eight concern the reporting period, while the rest are deaths reported late to the Ministry’s Health Monitoring Unit.

The earlier deaths concern four women aged 65, 81, 82, and 90, who died between last April and August 18, and four men aged 86, 87, 94 and 96, who died between August 13 and 15.

Between August 19 and 25, five men aged 78, 81, 83, 92 and 99, died, and three women aged 81, 87 and 90.

So far, 1,168 people have died in the Republic of Cyprus from COVID-19, while 576,278 cases have been recorded in total.

Between August 19 and 25, 2,389 PCR tests were carried out, 182 of which were positive, while 1,972 cases were detected out of 58,452 rapid tests.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The possibility of moving an asphalt plant in the area of Mitsero, in Nicosia district, will be discussed only after the residents of the area are satisfied with the solution of existing problems that affect their quality of life, as the Government is working with a technical consultant representing the communities of the area, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Costas Kadis, announced on Friday after a meeting of representatives of the communities of Vassiliko and Mitsero with the President of the Republic.

In addition, the Minister announced the establishment of a committee to monitor the industrial premises, with a representative of the affected communities participating in it, while a new meeting with the President is planned for October.

Specifically, regarding the meeting of the President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, with representatives of the communities of the Mitsero region, Kadis said that it was decided to work closely with the communities and their technical advisor, so that a specific proposal of actions will be taken, to address the existing problems of the region.

“Regarding the possible construction of the asphalt plant, the President of the Republic assured that this will be done if the existing problems are addressed and if the conditions set by the interested parties themselves are met”, he added.

In the case of Vassiliko, the Minister said that it was decided to set up two committees, to monitor the premises of the industries. The first one is for the energy center and has been established by the Ministry of Energy and the second concerns the wider region and will be established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, with the participation of a representative of the local communities.

“So there will be a much more systematic surveillance of what is happening in the area”, he said, adding that at the same time the Government will also examine some alternative suggestions submitted by the representatives of the communities in the region, regarding the siting of industrial units and the way the industries operate in the region. “So there will be a meeting in October to take final decisions there as well”, he said.

Mitsero is a village 30km west of Nicosia and Vassiliko is a village 30km east of Limassol. Both areas are highly industrialised. The residents say that this has caused problems affecting their quality of life and thus reacting to any further industrialisation of the area.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

In July 2022, total deposits reached €51.2 billion and total loans €28.6 billion, recording a net decrease, compared to June. This is what data on Monetary and Financial Institutions’ deposits and loans show, included in the August 2022 edition of Monetary and Financial Statistics, published on Friday by the Central Bank of Cyprus.

Total deposits in July 2022 recorded a net decrease of €183.9 million, compared with a net increase of €352.5 million in June 2022. Net decrease represents only transactions, and does not include the changes resulting from reclassifications, exchange rate and other adjustments.

The annual growth rate stood at 1.3%, compared with 1.7% in June 2022.

Total loans in July 2022 recorded a net decrease of €162.7 million, compared with a net increase of €109.9 million in June 2022. The annual growth rate stood at 1.9%, compared with 2.9% in June 2022.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Egypt’s new Defense Military Attaché visited the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) and was briefed on the organization and operation of the Center, as well as on its regional role and significance, the JRCC said.

A message posted by the JRCC on social media says that “on Thursday, the 25th of August 2022, the new Defense Attaché of Arab Republic of Egypt in Cyprus, Colonel Sherif Salama Abd El Samad Mohamed, paid an official visit to JRCC, escorted by his predecessor, Brigadier General Hossam Eldin Samir Hasan Gouda.”

It is added that “issues of common interest were discussed in the framework of the further development of the existing cooperation between the two countries in Search and Rescue related issues”.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Nea Paphos archaeological site in Paphos, on the southwest coast of Cyprus, attracted the most visitors for the first half of 2022. Tombs of the Kings, also in Paphos, ranks second.

According to data from the Department of Antiquities for the period January 1-June 30, 2022, a total of 115,474 persons visited Nea Paphos, 94,908 the Tombs of the Kings and 35,524 the Castle at Kato Paphos.

The local Museum of Palaipafos in the village of Kouklia in Paphos was visited by 7,334 people in the first half of 2022, followed by the Archaeological Museum of Paphos district with 3,250 visitors.

The local museum of Maa-Paleokastro was visited by 1,647 visitors, the archaeological site of Agios Georgios Pegeia by 1,215 visitors, the Local Museum of Polis Chrysochous (Marion Arsinois) by 1,014 visitors and the local Museum of Geroskipou by 916 visitors.

Increased numbers of visitors are registered mainly during the months of September and October.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The National Guard took part in an international special operations exercise in Egypt, with the participation of various military branches, which ended on Friday.

According to a press release by the Ministry of Defence, the exercise “HERCULES-22”, took place between August 19-26.

In addition to the host country and the Republic of Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Greece also participated with personnel and means, while USA, Jordan, Congo and Bahrain participated with observers.

The purpose of the exercise, which was carried out at the Mohamed Naguib Military Base, was to realistically train and strengthen the interoperability of the forces involved in special operations.

The Day of Distinguished Visitors (DV-Day) which took place on Thursday, was attended by the Deputy Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Konstantinos Chrysiliou, as well as representatives of the other participating countries.

As stated in the press release, the exercise is part of the network of international collaborations that the National Guard has developed with the Armed Forces of friendly countries and provided the opportunity for its personnel to train together with the special forces of other countries, thus promoting the level of interoperability and the excellent relations between the participating states, while contributing to the cooperation and security in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela is in Finland for contacts and exploratory talks with the ultimate goal of signing a memorandum of cooperation for sending patients to Finland to receive Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.

According to an announcement by the Health Ministry Hadjipantela discussed on Thursday the matter with Finland’s Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, Aki Lindén. The two Ministers agreed to start exploratory talks with the goal of signing a memorandum of cooperation for sending patients to Finland to receive this treatment.

During the meeting of the two Ministers, the development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the fields of Primary Health Care and eHealth was also discussed and it was decided to establish bilateral cooperation in these fields with the goal of signing a memorandum of understanding.

While in Finland, the Minister visited the first inpatient unit in the world that will offer Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, whose operation is expected to start towards the end of March 2023, the announcement said. It is noted that this cancer treatment technique, at the stage of clinical trials, is using innovative technology with promising results in the treatment of head and neck cancers.

He also visited the HUS Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he was briefed by its director and research staff on the innovative methods applied in Finland for the treatment of cancer.

On Friday, Hadjipantela was to visit the Health Incubator Helsinki and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

According to the announcement of the Ministry of Health, Hadjipantela holds meetings with ministers of various European countries, with the aim of strengthening and expanding collaborations in the health sector.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The EU is providing €1,800,000 humanitarian aid to families affected by flash floods across large parts of Pakistan. The aid funding will assist affected people in some of the hardest-hit districts of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, said: “Unusually heavy monsoon rains led to deadly flash floods in Pakistan. While the assessment on the ground is ongoing, we expect more than one million people having lost their homes and in need of direct assistance. The EU contribution underlines our commitment to the people of Pakistan and enables our partners to provide life-saving aid to those most affected.” The funding is allocated to EU humanitarian partners operating on the ground to meet immediate needs of flood stricken families, including through the provision of temporary emergency shelter, food and clean water, cash transfers and primary healthcare services. This latest funding comes in addition to last week’s allocation of €350,000 in aid to help people in Pakistan’s flood-affected province of Balochistan. The EU is funding humanitarian aid operations in Pakistan since 2016. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 229 54578; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)

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Source: Cyprus News Agency