Palliative care centre coming to Famagusta district

A palliative care centre for cancer patients in Famagusta is coming, says deputy head of KEPA Agios Christophoros in Paralimni.

Dimitris Papaevelthontos told the Cyprus News Agency that the idea belongs to the late Father Evelthon, founder of the centre, who passed away before he could see the project realised.

The centre originally opened in 2014 as a care home for the elderly, with two beds set aside for the free use of late-stage cancer patients in Father Evelthon’s memory.

Free palliative care is not widely available in Famagusta, said Papaevelthontos, which means cancer patients and their families have had to constantly travel to and from Nicosia.

The existing palliative care faction of KEPA Agios Christophoros has hosted around 25 cancer patients since its launch. “This was done in collaboration with Pasykaf, the Anticancer Society and the Oncology Centre so that cancer patients could have access to free care without having to make the trip to Nicosia.” he said.

Plans for the new palliative care centre are underway, with construction expected to commence in the summer and finish in the summer of 2022, said Papaevelthontos. We hope plans are approved by the ministry of health soon”.

The project will include a new floor equipped to host both cancer patients and some of the centre’s elderly patients who are bedbound, he said. It will employ specialised staff such as medics, nurses and carers.