There are no particular reasons for concern regarding the West Nile virus at this stage, said Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides, noting that “we have been taking all necessary measures from the very beginning.”
The Minister was speaking on the sidelines of the International Symposium on Mountain Sports, which took place on Wednesday at the “Giorgos Seferis” Cultural Center in Platres.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
According to a related announcement, in response to a question about the management and response to the West Nile virus, Mr. Charalambidis stated that “we are taking all necessary measures from the very beginning”.
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“We have made it clear that this is not a new phenomenon, nor is there—at least to this extent or as of today—an outbreak that should cause public concern,” he emphasized, adding that “whenever a case is identified, the relevant departments of the Ministry of Health follow up to carry out necessary spraying, if required.”
“Generally, based on scientific information, the West Nile virus does not cause any serious health consequences for those who become infected,” the Minister of Health noted.
“At this stage, I repeat, there are no particular reasons for concern,” he emphasized. “If any data changes—which we do not anticipate based on previous years—then rest assured that the necessary measures will be taken (to) protect public health,” he added.
Local health centers
Responding to another question regarding local health centers, the Minister of Health noted that he has “a pretty good picture” of them, adding that he has visited all the hospitals and most of the health centers. “At every health center I visit, I listen to their needs and we document them—now, of course, in collaboration with the State Health Services Agency, which has assumed management as a separate legal entity for public hospitals regarding staffing needs, and medical equipment, and we are taking all the steps we deem necessary to fulfill the overall plan for our country’s health care system,” he emphasized.
At the same time, he pointed out that the way the country’s healthcare system is designed is no longer the same as in the past, noting that “health centers no longer provide first aid; they are not accident and emergency departments.”
“Therefore,” he emphasized, “what we must ensure to protect public health is that all citizens have equal and timely access to accident and emergency departments, to specialized health services, and at the same time, of course, to have personal physicians who can provide care at primary care centers, such as health centers, primary care services.”
At the same time, Neophytos Charalambides clarified that “the issues with the nursing staff have not been resolved.” “It is an issue that has concerned us since the very first day I took office. An issue which, I must say, is not a Cypriot issue—it is a pan-European one,” he added, explaining that “access to nursing markets within the European Union is not an option for us, unfortunately, even though it would be a very good option because qualifications are recognized there.”
“We have taken various steps to support the nursing sector. We recently secured approval from the Council of Ministers and will begin providing grants to nursing students starting this year,” he noted. “I am already receiving reports from universities that there is increased interest in pursuing nursing,” he added.
“At the same time, for the third consecutive year, the Ministry of Health is continuing its efforts to promote the nursing profession. This initiative appears to have been highly successful in the first two years, with an 85% increase in new students in nursing programs,” noted the Minister of Health.
“At the same time, we have been in contact with the Ministry of Defense, which has informed us that, under current legislation, anyone wishing to pursue academic studies to become a nurse may be granted a deferment—men, obviously—and complete their military service at a later date,” he said.
“In addition to this, we also have several bills in the House of Representatives that will be considered in its upcoming sessions. The goal is to establish ambulance stations in all regions, specifically in areas to be identified by the Ambulance Service,” he noted, clarifying that “this is an ongoing process” and “it won’t happen immediately.”
“It requires planning. Above all, we need nursing staff, which we don’t have. We need paramedics and the budget—which obviously isn’t the most difficult part of all, but it’s an issue that must be anticipated and included in the relevant budget,” he noted.
When asked whether a study had been conducted regarding the geographic criteria that must be met, Mr. Charalambides said that the Ambulance Service has already conducted a study and priorities have been established. “The priorities have been documented in order of importance, and the goal is to cover the entire territory of the Republic of Cyprus so that, within the minimum estimated time, anyone who needs to go to an emergency department to be directed there within that time,” he emphasized.
“It’s a project that’s currently underway,” he said, explaining that “our biggest weakness right now is staffing.” “So we need to train and hire additional staff, and the rest—which is easier—will follow,” he concluded.
Source: CNA
