The idea of establishing such an Association first emerged in 1983, but it did not come to fruition. The idea was revived in 2000 and this time it had a positive outcome. The Pan-Cypriot Association for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease held its Founding Assembly on 10 December 2001 and was officially approved as a non-profit organization by the State on 2 August 2002.

The first General and Electoral Assembly was convened on 1 March 2003, during which the first Board of Directors was elected. (An Electoral Assembly is held every two years.)

• Stelios Stylianou – President
• Joseph Katsioloudis – Vice President
• Yiangos Yiangou – Secretary
• George Physentzou – Treasurer
• Yiannos Moyseos – Press Officer
• Yiannoula Strati – Member
• Kyproula Kaplani – Member
• Eleni Fotiou – Member (Chairperson of the Limassol District Committee)
• Anastasis Nychidis – Member (Chairperson of the Larnaca–Famagusta District Committee)
• Monica F. Kyriakou – Member (Chairperson of the Paphos District Committee)

A brief description of the Association’s actions and activities during these two years follows:

Year 2003

At the beginning of 2003, we contacted the European Federation and requested to be accepted as members. After submitting all the necessary documentation, we were initially accepted as observers at their annual conference.

During Easter 2003, members of the Association prepared 500 Easter candles, which were sold at the price of £1 each with the aim of strengthening our finances.

During the same period, we met with the Cyprus Society of Gastroenterology to discuss firsthand the problems faced by our members. Since then, we have enjoyed an excellent working relationship.

Furthermore, following our own efforts and, in particular, those of our President, legislation was passed providing free pharmaceutical treatment to patients suffering from these diseases.

Members of the Board of Directors attended the Medical Association Conference in Limassol on the subject of “Surgical Interventions in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases”.

In November 2003, we organized a lecture featuring three Cypriot Gastroenterologists.

• Dr Michalis Tryfonos – “Epidemiology / Pathogenesis”
• Dr Michalis Lerios – “Treatment / Quality of Life of Patients”
• Dr Andreas Christodoulides – “Surgical Treatment”

The lecture was highly successful, with more than 100 attendees.

During the same year, we applied to join the Pancyprian Welfare Council. Unfortunately, we were unable to become members because our district committees were not yet fully organized.

Year 2004

We met with the Minister of Health and presented our positions and concerns. We submitted a written memorandum covering the following issues:

1. Effective implementation of free pharmaceutical treatment
2. Proper staffing of public hospitals
3. Free access to costly laboratory tests and examinations
4. State-funded referral abroad for patients requiring specialized surgical procedures
5. Creation of a position for a Paediatric Gastroenterologist in the hospital
6. Hospital doctors should be able to select the most appropriate medication for their patients and not be restricted by what is available in the pharmacy
7. Exemption from military service
8. Social pension
9. Welfare Council support and disability allowance
10. Cancer monitoring and screening
11. Financial assistance

In October, two of our members attended the annual EFCCA Conference (European Federation of Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Associations), where they presented our application for full membership, which was approved successfully.

The Hellenic Foundation of Gastroenterology and Nutrition kindly provided us, upon our request, with 1,000 informational leaflets on inflammatory bowel diseases. These were distributed to our members and to all gastroenterologists so that they could make them available to their patients.