The Board of Directors has been formed as follows:
Association Activities:
5 February 2012: Co-organization of a conference entitled “Gastroenterological and Hepatological Problems in Children” with presentations by British doctors. The conference was jointly organized by our Association, Makarios Hospital, the Children with Liver Diseases Association, and the Cyprus Coeliac Association. It is worth mentioning that the proposal for the conference originated from our Association, which also assumed responsibility for coordinating the event. The conference concluded with the signing of a cooperation memorandum between the Ministry of Health and Kings College Hospital concerning pediatric gastroenterology issues, as well as an agreement providing for the three-year specialization of a Cypriot pediatrician at the hospital.
26 April 2012: Meeting between members of the Association’s Board and a senior medical officer of the Ministry of Health to discuss issues affecting our members.
19–21 April 2012: The President of the Association represented our Association at the European Federation Conference in Portugal.
18–20 May 2012: As part of World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day, a three-day series of events was organized. Conferences were held in Limassol and Nicosia in collaboration with the Cyprus Gastroenterology Society. Information booths were also set up in central locations in both cities, where educational material was distributed.
15–17 June 2012: Participation in the Book Festival held in Limassol. Members of the local council informed festival visitors about IBD and distributed informational material.
1 August 2012: Meeting with the gastroenterologist of Limassol General Hospital to discuss problems experienced by our members within the public healthcare system.
25 September 2012: Meeting with the Minister of Health, Dr. Stavros Malas, during which we requested solutions to problems faced by IBD patients. He immediately instructed that the pediatric gastroenterology specialization programme at Kings College Hospital proceed and that specialized nurses for these diseases be appointed in every hospital. We also raised the need for a second gastroenterologist in Limassol and discussed alternative solutions, as there was no interest from a private physician to work in the public hospital.
29 September 2012: Members of the Limassol local council distributed informational leaflets at the Mall of Limassol.
18 October 2012: The President of the Association represented our Association at a World Congress held in Brussels focusing on research into IBD.
It is also worth mentioning that new informational leaflets were printed and both large and small display stands were purchased for placement in hospitals and medical clinics. Additionally, we requested the Hellenic Foundation of Gastroenterology to provide us with a booklet entitled “Understanding IBD”. The booklet would be mailed to members together with their 2013 membership payment receipt.
13 January 2013: Theatrical performance entitled “The Ghost and the Vain Lady” in support of the Association’s fundraising efforts.
March 2013: Participation of President Mr. Yiangos Yiangou and Organizing Secretary Ms. Popi Nasou in the European Federation Conference held in Slovenia.
17–19 May 2013: Three-day programme of events organized on the occasion of World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day, observed annually on 19 May. The events were held under the auspices of the Honourable Minister of Health, Mr. Petros Petrides, who addressed our conference in Nicosia, as well as under the auspices of the Cyprus Gastroenterology Society. Specifically, the conference was held in Limassol on Friday and in Nicosia on Saturday, while on Sunday we conducted a three-hour awareness campaign at the Mall of Cyprus. Speakers included members of the Cyprus Gastroenterology Society and a nursing officer specialized in chronic bowel diseases. Our election assembly was also held on 18 May.
