Loizos G. Loizou, Professor of Medical School at University of Nicosia, Cyprus, Head of Cyprus International Action Plan for Children with CancerHead at ELPIDA Foundation for children with cancer, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“My friends,
Today I would like to share with you the progress and developments of the Cyprus International Action Plan for Children with Cancer (Cy-IAPCC) – an initiative that I launched in Cyprus in 2023, with the ELPIDA Foundation as a driving force and with a deep belief that our country can contribute to reducing global inequalities in Pediatric Oncology.
From the beginning, we set a goal: To help countries with limited resources offer children with cancer access to life-saving treatments. To ensure that no child is deprived of the treatment they are entitled to.
After the great work we have done in Cyprus for 35 years – with cure rates of up to 82%, with continuous support of families and with the contribution of the state and society – we felt a moral obligation: To transfer this knowledge, experience and humanity to where the needs are huge and the loss of children is dramatically increasing, particularly in low-income countries.
Just as we were supported by other countries 35 years ago, so now we are using the resources offered to us specifically for this international program, to give hope to children who otherwise would not have had any chance.
In two years of life, the Cyprus Action Plan for Children with Cancer was developed through six axes:
- Shipment of medicines to countries with needs
- Training of health professionals and transfer of know-how
- Strengthening research
- Support for the creation of national cancer registries
- Telemedicine Development
- Humanitarian action with international organizations and governments.
The results are already visible:
- We shipped anti-cancer drugs and supportive therapy drugs to Senegal, Burkina Faso and Botswana
- We are working with Botswana, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the World Health Organization to create and implement National Beating Cancer Plans
- We organized in Nicosia the 1st International Conference of Experts of our Plan, with 300 participants and 50 experts from 26 countries (February 25)
- We created the Pediatric Palliative Care Team
- Our total humanitarian contribution already exceeds 420,000 euros (from donors who donated especially for this global program)
The Cyprus International Action Plan for Children with Cancer is implemented with the support of the ELPIDA Foundation and the cooperation of organizations such as WHO, SIOPE, GFAOP, St. Jude Global and I-BFM, as well as with the active support of the Republic of Cyprus – through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CyprusAid and the Ministry of Health.
Our valuable partners are the Cyprus Medical Association, the Cyprus Pediatric Society, the Medical Schools of the University of Nicosia and the European University Cyprus, the AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
With deep faith we work to ensure that children with cancer have the treatment they need!”
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