Over 200 children to be examined by doctors from Shriners

Over 200 children with serious orthopaedic problems will receive a free examination by doctors from the USA-based Shriners hospitals who are due to visit the island for the 40th time later this week, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

Following a two-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, the team of doctors arrived from the non-profit medical facilities in North America and will examine children from Cyprus and surrounding countries on Thursday.

Welcoming the team, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela said this was the 40^th year the initiative will take place thanks to its connection with the local George and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation.

So far, 4,000 children have been transferred to the Shriners hospital for treatment and over 16,000 examined during the doctors’ visits to Cyprus, the minister said.

“The benefits of the annual visits of the doctors to Cyprus for children with serious orthopaedic problems are manifold and there is an opportunity to exchange expertise and know-how between doctors in Cyprus and America,” Hadjipantela said.

The examinations will take place at the George and Thelma Paraskevaides foundation on Thursday, after which they will visit Makarios children hospital and Famagusta hospital.

Since its foundation in 1872, the sole purpose of the doctors from the non-profit has been to provide completely free of charge the best possible medical support for children up to the age of 18 with specific orthopaedic conditions.

In 2018 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the health ministry, the George and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation and Shriners Hospitals for Children. The agreement provides for the strengthening of cooperation between the three parties and the expansion of synergy in the fields of education and research.

“Our aim is to perform surgical procedures in Cyprus as a reference point for the countries of the Middle East,” Hadjipantela said.