Tepak nursing students to train in regional medical centres

Nursing students at the Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak) will be able to practise at a Limassol regional medical centre after the signing of three protocols of cooperation on Monday.

The protocols, two with the state health services organisation (Okypy) and one with the Pachna community council, were signed at a special ceremony held at the university, in the presence of Health Minister Michael Hadjipandela and mountain development commissioner Costas Hambiaouris.

They were signed by Tepak’s rector, Professor Panagiotis Zafiris, the deputy executive director general of Okypy Kypros Stavridis and the chairman of the Pachna community council, Andreas Savva.

In his address, Hadjipandela said the pandemic confirmed the importance of the role of nurses and midwives and how Tepak’s nursing department contributes to the country’s international recognition in this sector.

“The Department of Nursing and the Health Sciences faculty of Tepak has contributed greatly to highlighting the distinctive academic, scientific and research contribution of nursing and midwifery science, as well as the international recognition that our country receives.”

The protocols include access to the Pachna medical health centre for the purposes of clinical practice of students of the department of nursing, research activity of academic and research staff and teaching.

Noting the importance of the three protocols for the nursing department, Zafiris said “we are proud of the department of nursing and its rich contribution to science and society” highlighting its “significant contribution” to the state’s efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Students and graduates of Tepak staffed the health structures and free testing sites for coronavirus.

“Our goal and concern is to upgrade health services, both in urban and mountainous areas, with emphasis on our elderly residents living in mountainous areas,” Zafiris said.