Paphos hospice and cancer charity work together to better serve patients
By Bejay Browne
The friends’ hospice in Paphos and the Cyprus anti-cancer society have formed a working relationship to benefit people suffering with life-limiting illnesses.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed by both organisations to support efforts on behalf of their respective patients. It combines training and an exchange of expertise and skill, according to Chris Jones, president of the friends’ hospice foundation.
“This is a great development“, said Jones.
The friend’s hospice was founded in 2006 and is situated in a dedicated wing of St George’s polyclinic in the centre of Paphos and has treated well over 1,000 patients offering free palliative and respite care. Its annual costs are around €250,000.
The Cyprus anti-cancer society was established in 1971 and operates the ‘Arodaphnousa palliative care centre’ in Nicosia and the ‘Evagorion palliative day centre’ in Limassol.
Both of these facilities offer palliative care to people suffering life-limiting illness for which there is no cure. It is free of charge for all nationalities. They also have offices in all districts which offer home care services.
The agreement was reached following several weeks of discussion between the two entities.
The German Oncology Centre which opened in Ayios Athanasios in 2017, also encouraged the anti-cancer society to form better ties with Paphos based hospice to better serve patients in both towns.
“It is an acknowledgement that we are respected deliverers of quality palliative care to patients and support for their families. Our doctors, nurses and volunteers work hard for the widespread community and deserve credit for their service,” said Jones.
In addition, Dr Adamos Adamou MP, appointed by the government as responsible for co-ordinating the delivery of oncology services across Cyprus, has agreed to join the board of trustees of hospice to help implement the new collaboration.
Last year the ministry of health increased its grant to the hospice from €15,000 to €40,000. The funding is subject to close scrutiny regarding good governance, payment of VAT and audited accounts, said Jones.
“For our charity, which depends on donations and fund-raising, this is a very welcome contribution to the running costs, which currently stand at about €250,000 a year”, he said.
In addition, the ‘supporting hands’ logo which has been a symbol of the hospice from its inception has had an overhaul.
The new logo will feature alongside the emblem of the Cyprus anti-cancer society on all related literature and collection jars.
The uniforms of the friend’s hospice’s nursing staff have also been updated and are now in maroon.
The Irish ambassador to Cyprus, Deirdre Ní Fhallúin, paid a visit to the hospice on Saturday and met with staff and patients to discover first-hand how it functions.
New sculptures unveiled at Geroskipou Park
By Bejay Browne
Ten new sculptures have been unveiled to the public at a dedicated park established in Geroskipou last year, as part of the official ‘Pafos2017’ cultural capital programme.
This is the second symposium that has been held in Geroskipou, where artists create unique sculptures and is supported by the local municipality.
As with last year, ten selected artists have created their works during a ten-day symposium.
Mayor of Geroskipou, Michalis Pavlides told the Paphos Post that such places are important for the area, for both tourists and locals.
“Many people like to visit the ‘Myths and Sculptures Park’ and we will now have an annual symposium which will see the number and diversity of sculptures grow over the years. It’s important that we support and promote such actions,” he said.
Pavlides said that the ten participating artists this year are from countries all over the world including Iran, Spain, Egypt, France, Syria, Georgia, Bulgaria, Poland and Cyprus.
“We chose the participants carefully and we are very happy to have such a unique park in our municipality,” he said.
Renowned Cypriot artist, Christos Lanitis has participated in both years and has enjoyed the experiences; he now has two of his works placed in the park.
This year his creation takes an abstract form representing waves and ‘creatures coming out of the sea,’ he said.
“It took me the time of the symposium to create this work, as it did with the other artists. It’s very important for cities to have parks such as these, it shows how advanced our culture is and it’s something different for the public to do rather than just visiting places such as restaurants.”
He said that local limestone has been sourced and utilised for the creations and is a way to connect the past with the present. Although each work has its own dimensions, they average about two metres in height and weigh in at around five tonnes.
The already popular park which was inaugurated by the Cyprus Minister of Education and Culture, Kostas Kadis, saw the ten new additions added to the ten that are already in place, following a symposium in 2017, where the ten participating artists from Cyprus and abroad were chosen from an open call by the Pafos2017 Organisation for the 1st International Sculpture Symposium and Sculpture Park.
The ‘Myths and Sculpture Park’ is free to enter and found close to the central square of Geroskipou. It has now been transformed and was previously an unused open space.
Renal unit at Paphos hospital receives new machine
By Bejay Browne
The renal unit at Paphos general hospital has taken delivery of a state of the art dialysis machine, made possible by a donation from a local charity.
According to Graham Brown, the chairman of the Paphos Kidney Association, the new machine- a ‘multifiltrate acute therapy system’, has been installed in Paphos General Hospital’s ICU (intensive care unit) and will be used for emergencies and life-threatening situations.
“We are all really chuffed, the nurses, the doctors and the kidney association. We raised the money for it and it will also treat patients for food poisoning, multi- organ failure, plasma treatment as well as dialysis,” he told the Paphos Post.
The new machine, which cost in excess of €30,000, is of particular use in treating patients with low blood pressure and nurses will need to be specially trained in how to operate the machine, and will undergo training in two weeks’ time he said.
According to doctors at the unit, there are currently 75 patients receiving regular dialysis with many others waiting for treatment. Regular dialysis treatments takes around five hours and until now, patients with low blood pressure couldn’t use the machines in Paphos, as they need a far gentler treatment which takes much longer, and had to travel to Nicosia to use the machine there.
The new machine has been long awaited, as the charity had to wait for many months to gain permission to donate the machine to the unit from the government. It then took a further three months to make, as it’s such a specialised item.
“It was made in Germany; when the doctors asked us if we could get them this machine, we said yes and raised the money,” he said.
Brown has hereditary polycystic kidney disease and receives regular dialysis treatment at the unit to keep him alive. Each of the hemodiafiltration (HDF) units which the charity has donated, comes with a €25,000 price tag. If a patient doesn’t receive dialysis when needed, they will die within five days.
His treatments take around four to five hours and he needs them three times a week to keep him alive. According to doctors, it costs around €50,000 to treat each patient a year.
In 2017 they raised over €73,000 from all sorts of events including: quizzes, raffles, concerts and donations.
www.cypruskidney.com
Sailors race around Yeronisos Island
By Bejay Browne
Sailors once again took part in the popular annual race around Yeronisos Island, off the Peyia coast in Paphos.
Also known as ‘Holy Island’ (and locally as Saint George’s island), Yeronisos has been uninhabited since the 15th century, but recent excavations have revealed it once held a sanctuary dedicated to Apollo in the late Hellenistic period.
Ongoing excavations have been taking place at Yeronisos for almost three decades.
Organised by avid sailors Sharon and Kit Whitehouse and volunteers from the Paphos International Sailing Club of which they are both members, the boats set off from Mandoulis beach at Agios Georgios harbour in Peyia.
“Businesses sponsored the participating boats in a bid to raise money for local charities,” said Whitehouse.
The two charities are the Margarita Liasidou foundation and the Paphos autistic association.
The sailor noted that this year’s race highlights the celebration of 28 years of archaeological excavations on the historical island.
Euphoria art land opens in Limassol
By Bejay Browne
A stunning, unique project nestled in the Limassol countryside is offering guests the opportunity to experience the tranquillity of nature whilst immersed in a melting pot of cultures, which have been expertly melded to create three vibrant houses and magnificent landscapes.
The Euphoria Art Land project is an explosion of colours and influences which work together surprisingly well, and have been created by well-travelled interior designer, Anthos Myrianthous, who started the project six years ago.
Myrianthous, 52, told the Paphos Post that he was moved to create something inspiring and that the project highlights the power of human self-belief.
“It is a miracle that the project took off at all, as my budget was less than zero. I want children to understand that if you believe in yourself anything is possible,” he said.
The project, (although referring to it as a dreamscape might be more accurate), consists of three very individual autonomous houses which all have their own ethos, style and story and entering the space is like being immersed in a world of folklore and fantasy.
It is found close to a rocky hillside, stream and beach in Pyrgos, Limassol. The grounds are beautiful, encompassing nature, all sorts of Mediterranean and tropical trees, including eucalyptus, many herbs and a multitude of other plants.
Man-made lakes with water lilies and lotus plants and cactus gardens inspired by Mexico are designed to stir feelings of ‘euphoria’ in visitors, hence the name.
Myrianthous gleaned inspiration for his magical creation from nature and his extensive travels to: Asia, Latin America, Africa and Europe. Here he photographed different tribes, their culture and lifestyle and he has drawn on these experiences to create Euphoria Art Land.
The beautiful structures are intricately handmade. Attention to the smallest detail has created something magnificent, organic and earthy, using many recycled materials and utilising some traditional building methods.
The current project is only a small part of a larger idea he has for the space which he hopes will see the creation of further buildings and expansion of the gardens, when finances permit.
He said that the area was made possible with ‘never-ending love, tons of positive energy and an endless passion for art’.
Two men and their wheelbarrows walk for cancer patient’s charity
By Bejay Browne
A unique charity initiative will see two men and their wheelbarrows walk from Paphos to Limassol and back in a bid to raise as much cash as possible for a local charity.
Kevin Foster and Mark Smith – ‘Two boys and their barrows’ – are raising funds for the Cancer Patients Support Group Paphos (CPSG). They will walk the 70 or so kilometres along the scenic coastal route – the B6 – also known as the old Limassol road. It runs through seven villages and part of the British base.
“We would like to raise 10,000 euros for this great charity and we wanted to do something different to stand out,” said Foster, who is in his 60s.
Laurence Doughty, a friend, offered to coordinate the event as he has undertaken a number of fundraisers before. As well as his job as a tree surgeon, Doughty is also a member of the Paphos Zingers, an amateur singing group that have raised thousands for charity, in particular, the Paphos CPSG. Foster’s wife Maria is also a member of the Zingers.
Foster said he ‘used to be quite fit’ as he was a boxer and played football in the past and both he and business partner Smith have been training ahead of the event.
“We both know people who have had cancer and have met so many brave people coping with this disease, we wanted to give something back.”
The CPSG help to provide numerous services for cancer patients and their families including free home care nursing – similar to Macmillan nurses in the UK – psychosocial support, travel to the oncology centre in Nicosia, volunteers and a free helpline.
The two men operate a gardening business together, hence the idea for the wheelbarrows, he said.
Doughty explained that members of the public are also being invited to join the fundraising pair along the route, not only to cheer them on at certain spots but also to walk with them, for the entire distance or as much or as little as can be managed, to raise funds for chosen charities.
“People can walk as far as they like and raise money for a charity. Sponsorship forms are available from both me and Kevin,” he said.
As the pair start off from Kouklia in Paphos on June 14 at 9am, radio station Rock FM will broadcast live, the Zingers will perform and a bagpiper will also play.
The duo will then make their way to Paramali and on day two they will walk with their wheelbarrows, to Limassol Marina; day three they will make the return journey to Paramali and on day four they will arrive back at Kouklia in Paphos.
“The idea is that they will walk around 23 km a day and on the way back, when they reach Aphrodite Hills, they will be escorted by members of the Paphos Bikers Club,” he said.
A welcome party will then be held in Kouklia square at around 3pm with live music from band Breeze.
Russian expats want action over crime
By Bejay Browne
Two demonstrations protesting against increasing levels of crime in Cyprus took place in Paphos and Limassol.
Organiser and Paphos resident, Irina (surname withheld), told the Paphos Post that she organised the ‘flashmob against crime’ to encourage the public to stand together and call on authorities to take immediate action.
“Crime is starting to get out of control in Cyprus and especially in Paphos where there aren’t enough police and those we do have are overworked. We can stop this is we intervene now,” she said.
Irina said that long-term Russian residents in particular are concerned about increasing numbers of burglaries, home invasions and drug related crime, including shootings and murders, on the island.
On occasion, burglars are entering houses while residents are in adjacent rooms or asleep, she said.
Originally from Moscow, Irina has lived in Paphos with her family for the last 18 years, drawn by the apparent safety of the island. However, she says this is changing and many homes, including hers in Kamares, where she lives with her family, have been burgled in the last few years.
Kamares is a popular, luxury hillside development that enjoys sweeping views across Paphos and the coastline. Many of its residents are wealthy expats from Russia, Britain and China who moved to the area drawn by the peace and safety.
“From year 2013 the level of crime started to worry our family. We have young children and they were badly affected by burglary in December 2013. It caused a huge amount of stress just before Christmas and our New Year celebrations were ruined. Our two Range Rovers were taken, along with jewellery, TVs and computers.”
Irina said that the problem is compounded by insufficient police patrols due to a lack of staff, particularity in the Paphos district.
However, police figures for the first half of 2018 show a drop in the number of burglaries for the Paphos district, according to Paphos police.
“In 2017, from January to April there were 111 burglaries, whereas there were 62 burglaries for the same period this years,” a police spokesman said.
Despite the overall drop, it appears gangs may be specifically targeting wealthy expat areas. Irina also believes some burglaries are not reported or if they are, police don’t always register them.
“Our British neighbour reported a break in but the police didn’t even bother to turn up,” she said.
The group is currently garnering signatures calling on authorities to take measures to reduce crime and will also send letters sent to various bodies and government departments including the ministry of Justice.
