WHO Cyprus office to deal with infectious diseases (Update)

The ‘milestone’ opening of a World Health Organisation office on the island illustrated the long-standing cooperation between Cyprus and the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela on Monday.

The creation of the National Office of the European Region of WHO in Cyprus will bring significant benefits to the island and the wider region in the field of public health, the minister said at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, held in Israel.

In the context of the conference, Hadjipantela met with WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge and his team to discuss the committee’s agenda in the post-Covid era among others.

“Cyprus is investing in public health with an important commitment,” he said, explaining this move “is proof of the long-standing cooperation that Cyprus has with WHO Europe, which remained active throughout the Covid-19 pandemic”.

The minister also met with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom whom he briefed on the actions underway regarding the operation of the WHO regional office for Europe in Cyprus, which will also deal with infectious diseases.

WHO’s National Office of the Europe Region in Cyprus will be active in strengthening public health and upgrading preparedness for dealing with emerging and epidemic-prone infectious diseases, through the promotion of innovative actions aimed at preventing them, as well as in the collection, dissemination and evaluation of epidemiological data, the health ministry explained.

The office will also promote the development of policies in the field of communicable diseases and zoonoses and the networking and creation of alliances between the countries of the Mediterranean Basin and Southeastern Europe.