Speech by The Minister of Health on the inauguration of the Limassol Hospice
located at the Chyrosvalantou Clinic in Limassol 10/01/08
It is with great pleasure that I attend today’s gathering in order to inaugurate this Hospice, the first centre for Palliative Care in the district of Limassol.
Allow me at the start to especially congratulate the volunteers of the association ‘Friends for Life,’ for their tireless efforts over many years resulting in the creation of this Hospice.
A special mention also goes to the Chrysovalantou Clinic where the Hospice is located and its director Dr Andreas Prokopiou who have contributed to the success of the aims of this ambition, having as its main characteristic the upholding of human dignity and sensitivities of our fellow human beings.
Such actions and conduct, particularly in the field of health, is desirable because through them there is success in the provision of services required by the total system of health and welfare for the individual complementing thus the services of the social state. Because of this, the State applauds such acts and conduct derived from social sensitivities and the highest human values.
In particular in the offer of Palliative Care where humanity has special significance, the field of voluntary service plays a very significant part, since the directing principles of such care offered is based on human rights, the rights of patients, on human dignity and sharing- principles which the Republic of Cyprus promotes to ensure through law, the protection of the rights of patients.
Palliative Care aims at providing the total care of the chronically ill patient, relieving all the symptoms of the patient, offering social, psychological and spiritual support of the patient and his/her family and mainly the quality of life. The quality of life in palliative care does not differ from the quality of life in health care, but here it is the total purpose; as stipulated in the World Health Organisation, Hospices provide support and care to persons in the final stage of their life so that they can live as best as they can painlessly and comfortably.
The association ‘Friends for Life’, serving the principles of sharing and mutual service which unites the individual in common purposes and aims, have worked with passion for the creation of this Hospice for the town and district of Limassol. Certainly it doesn’t stop here since they have declared that they will continue intensively for its development and continued improvement. Thus the residents of Limassol will have at its disposal a Hospice for the care of persons in the final stage of life, with respect to their individuality and human dignity independent of race or religion.
In finishing I would like again to congratulate the members of the Association ‘Friends for Life’ as well as Dr Andreas Prokopiou and the Chrysovalantou Clinic and I wish them the fulfilment of their high goals and endeavours. |
