During these two years, we worked tirelessly with the aim of fulfilling our challenging mission. The Board of Directors met regularly in a room at the Second Primary School of Makedonitissa, which was made available for this purpose by the school’s headmaster. The Board consisted of:
Board of Directors
<ul>
<li>Stelios Stylianou – President</li>
<li>Joseph Katsioloudis – Vice President</li>
<li>Yiangos Yiangou – Secretary</li>
<li>George Physentzou – Treasurer</li>
<li>Yiannoula Strati – Assistant Treasurer</li>
<li>Mariliz Hadjigeorgiou – Press Officer</li>
<li>Pantelis Panteli – Organizing Secretary</li>
<li>Yiannis Antoniadis – Member</li>
<li>Evangelia Panayiotidou – Member</li>
<li>Stelios Avraam – Member</li>
<li>Anna Kafkalia – Member</li>
<li>Eleni Petasi – Member</li>
<li>Theodosis Theodosiou – Member</li>
</ul>
A brief report of the Association’s actions and activities during these two years follows:
1. In October 2005, following a letter sent to OPAP, we received financial support of £1,000.
2. The material for the creation of the Association’s website was prepared, and it was decided that it would be named CYCCA.org.
3. Following intensive efforts, the Pancyprian Welfare Council indicated that they would accept us as members. On 24 January 2006, two of our members met with the Council’s legal department.
4. Members attended the funeral of our President’s mother and received donations amounting to £1,100 in her memory.
5. In April 2006, a three-member delegation from our Board met with the Minister of Health, Mr. Gavrielides, who promised the following:
<ul>
<li>The release of funding for the purchase of specific medications that were in short supply on the market, such as Endocort.</li>
<li>An investigation into the standard of healthcare provided at Nicosia General Hospital and coverage of the need for a gastroenterologist at Paphos Hospital through regular visits by the gastroenterologist from Limassol Hospital.</li>
<li>Due to the lack of a paediatric gastroenterologist in Cyprus, a paediatrician would be sent abroad for specialization in this field. Serious cases, however, would continue to be referred abroad.</li>
<li>In cases where hospital waiting lists existed for examinations, services would be purchased from the private sector for serious cases.</li>
<li>Financial assistance to the Association.</li>
<li>Unfortunately, the change of Minister of Health resulted in the non-implementation of the above commitments, with the exception of the financial assistance of £1,000.</li>
</ul>
6. In March 2006, the Pancyprian Welfare Council informed us that our application for membership had been approved.
7. We requested Dr. Michalis Tryfonos to assume the role of our Medical Advisor, following a requirement set by the European Federation.
8. We prepared a tri-fold membership registration leaflet and requested that the Hellenic Foundation of Gastroenterology and Nutrition send us 1,000 booklets to distribute at the Cyprus State Fair, where we participated as representatives of the Pancyprian Welfare Council.
9. In May 2006, Pantelis Panteli, Mariliz Hadjigeorgiou, Joseph Katsioloudis, and George Physentzou represented the Pancyprian Welfare Council at the State Fair.
10. Membership registration forms were distributed to doctors for the enrolment of new members.
11. George Physentzou participated in the European Youth Conference organized by EFCCA in Budapest in August 2006.
12. In June 2006, a social gathering for all members was organized at the Cleopatra Hotel.
13. In October 2006, two members of our Association participated in the European Federation Conference in France.
14. In November 2006, the Secretary of our Association attended a reception organized by the Presidential Couple in honour of voluntary organizations.
15. Considerable efforts were made to collaborate with another association in order to jointly rent office space and employ administrative staff, but these efforts were unsuccessful.
16. In December 2006, we received financial support of £1,000 from OPAP.
17. In January 2007, we received financial assistance of £1,000 from the Ministry of Health.
18. In March 2007, two members of our Association participated in the European Federation Conference held in Seville, Spain.
19. Our Association’s website was launched in a trial phase.
20. On 25 May 2007, we met with the Minister of Health, who promised the following:
<ul>
<li>Medications containing mesalazine from all pharmaceutical companies, as well as Endocort, would be made available to all patients who required them.</li>
<li>It would be investigated whether Remicade could be provided through a direct prescription from private physicians.</li>
<li>In the coming years, positions for gastroenterologists and a paediatric gastroenterologist would be created.</li>
<li>Serious paediatric cases could be referred directly to him for arrangements to be made for treatment abroad.</li>
</ul>
21. A lecture was held on 9 June 2007 featuring speakers from the Cyprus Society of Gastroenterology.
