“It is now possible” to place defibrillators in remote villages, Health Minister Michael Damianos said on Sunday.

In a social media post hailing the placement of a defibrillator in the Troodos mountain village of Polystypos, he said his ministry “has always acted in such a way as to preserve human life and promote health”.

He added that the defibrillator was provided to the village following cooperation between the health ministry and the non-profit the Spiritus Invictus foundation.

“Through this collaboration, it is now possible to place defibrillators in remote villages and train people to use them,” he said.

Defibrillators were first installed in public places in Cyprus in 2009, with then-health minister Christos Patsalides stressing their importance.

“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, any time and under any circumstances… In busy places such as government buildings, hotels, airports, ports, sports centres and elsewhere, there is increased chance of a cardiac arrest,” he said.