Minister of Health, Michael Hadjipantela, singed a Memorandum of Understanding with the President of Kids Save Lives, Anastasios Stefanakis, on Friday, at the Embassy of Cyprus in Greece.
In a press release the Ministry said that “joining forces with the Greek humanitarian civil society organization Kids Save Lives, the Ministry of Health’s collaborations in the health sector are strengthened and a common solidarity front is created for the immediate shielding, safety, protection and rescue of every human life at risk from heart attack, drowning or any other cause.”
The Memorandum of Understanding aims, as noted, to prevent, raise awareness and inform the public about the First Aid institution and to develop a Community First Responder System (First Responder Network), in order to respond in a timely manner to life-threatening incidents until the arrival of specialised assistance.
It also aims to develop a Network of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the Republic of Cyprus, which will be maintained and registered by spatial arrangement in the National AED Map of KIDS SAVE LIVES, and the promotion of the free use of the iSAVElives Application created and developed by the organisation for the immediate activation of Community First Responders in life-threatening emergencies, in order to reduce the response time (https: //kidssavelives. gr/isavelives/).
The MoU also aims at the timely response to life-threatening incidents and the increase of their survival rate through the administrative coordination of the Ministry of Health, the Scientific Support of the Cardiology Clinic of Nicosia General Hospital and the Technical Support of the Resuscitation Department.
Finally, its aim is to develop valuable partnerships, educational programs, activities and competitions to raise awareness and inform children, adolescents, citizens and health professionals about the importance of immediate First Aid and the timely use of AEDs in cardiac arrest victims.
The Health Minister said after signing the memorandum that this is “an important contribution that will help many of our fellow citizens to have a better life, and when there is a cardiac arrest, to be able to live their lives normally.”
He added that “we expect this application to be implemented immediately in the next 50 days in Cyprus.”
Addressing the President of Kids Save Lives, Hadjipantela said that “I expect you in Cyprus in early 2023 to present this pioneering application in our country.”
On his part, Stefanakis, said that “Greece and Cyprus are together again in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health of Cyprus and the Greek humanitarian civil society organisation Kids Save Lives – Children save lives, for public health and saving a life.”
He noted that “in real emergencies our enemy is time and that is why we need to think smart and in an innovative way.”
Source: Cyprus News Agency