RECYCLING IN MUNICIPALITY OF IEROKIPIA - RESIDENTS OF GEROSKIPOU, KOLONI AND KONIA
The Municipality of Ierokipia informs the residents of Geroskipou, Koloni and Konia that, in the context of strengthening recycling and better serving the citizens, the recyclable materials collection workshop collects PMD packaging (plastic, metal, beverage packaging), as well as paper, from all homes (door to door) once a week.
With the main objective of preparing, revising, updating and implementing the National Cancer Strategy, the bill for the establishment of the National Cancer Institute is expected to be put before the Council of Ministers today for approval.
The relevant proposal, to which, of course, the entire bill is attached, was prepared by the Ministry of Health, with the competent minister requesting its approval today, in order to submit it to the Parliament for a vote, although it must be taken for granted that the process of discussing it will begin after the parliamentary elections, as the program of the current parliamentary committee on Health is already under pressure and the remaining sessions are only three (including the one today).
The bill provides for the establishment of a body that will undertake the coordination of all actions, policies and plans related to the prevention, diagnosis and management of cancer, while at the same time having the responsibility to promote the development of scientific research on cancer in Cyprus.
As we are informed, the National Cancer Institute will operate as an autonomous scientific organization, responsible for coordinating, organizing and supervising issues related to the field of oncology. The aim is to upgrade and make better use of the health services provided to cancer patients, as well as to ensure that the policies implemented are based on scientifically based data.
Within the framework of its responsibilities, the Institute will participate in working groups to be determined by the National Center for Clinical Documentation and Quality of Health Services, contributing to the formulation of national guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. At the same time, it will contribute to the establishment of clinical protocols, the monitoring of their implementation and the evaluation of the effectiveness of health services in the field of oncology.
A significant part of its responsibilities will also concern education and information. In other words, the National Cancer Institute will promote the training of health professionals, the information of patients and organized bodies active in the field of health, as well as the wider information of the public. Through these actions, the aim is to enhance knowledge about the prevention and early diagnosis of cancer, as well as the active participation of citizens in the efforts to deal with the disease.
The bill also provides for the strengthening of the Institute's cooperation with other bodies, both nationally and internationally, with the aim of monitoring scientific developments in the field of oncology and promoting modern practices in cancer prevention and treatment.
Another key axis of action of the new organization will be the collection and processing of data related to the quality of health services in the field of cancer. The Institute will collect data from various sources, define evaluation indicators and proceed to analyses of this data, with the aim of continuously monitoring and improving the services provided.
In addition, it will undertake the promotion and coordination of research programs, which will contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology of cancer in Cyprus, as well as the factors related to the occurrence of the disease. For the implementation of these actions, cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, as well as with universities, research centers and other competent bodies, is foreseen.
The development of research is considered particularly important, as it can contribute both to decision-making for health policies and to the introduction and application of new therapeutic approaches and methods in Cyprus.
It is recalled that the creation of the National Cancer Institute was, for several years, a request of all stakeholders representing both the scientific world of Cyprus and patient organizations.
After all, its removal from the state budget in the past had caused a storm of reactions, with the issue being discussed intensely in public and within Parliament, then forcing the government to speed up the procedures for the preparation of the relevant bill.
The main demand of the social partners is the establishment of a body that will coordinate all cancer-related actions in order to stop the fragmentation of the relevant services and programs in Cyprus.
Halloumi PDO is at serious risk if Cyprus deviates from European directives. The Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panayiotou, warns of exclusion from the Single Market if Cyprus unilaterally ends the killing of animals with foot-and-mouth disease. Speaking to the parliamentary committee on agriculture, it was clear that any move without the consent of the European Commission would amount to economic suicide.
"A unilateral decision will result in the exclusion of Cyprus from the Single Market," the Minister warned. The effects will not be limited to dairy products, but will extend to the movement of people, passengers and even tourism, reminiscent of the dark days of universal lockdowns.
The Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance made a start in the debate on a bill that frees disability benefits from the Guaranteed Minimum Income and treats people with disabilities without discrimination on Tuesday, with the debate continuing next week, when MPs will also expect answers and positions from the executive power, as stated after the session by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Committee, AKEL MP, Andreas Kafkalias.
The protracted war in the Middle East, as well as the blow to the British Bases on Monday, March 2, have caused legitimate concern among citizens. Some of them posted photos with columns of clouds, mistakenly believing that they came from areas above Cyprus. This has led to discussions about the possibility of an attack on our country, or whether these are attacks involving neighbouring countries.
As experts explain, these images relate to ballistic missile launches from Iran towards Israel, as well as attempts to intercept them by Israeli air defenses, sometimes even over Lebanon.
Weak high pressure is affecting the area, while weak low pressure is expected from Thursday. Dust will be observed in the atmosphere from time to time.
Today, the weather will be mostly clear, although locally increased clouds will be observed at times. Winds will be mainly northeast to east, light to moderate, 3 to 4 Beaufort, and locally moderate to strong, 4 to 5 Beaufort. The sea will be a little rough in the west, but up to rough on the rest of the coast. The temperature will rise to20 degrees inland, around 21 on the coast and 8 degrees in the higher mountains.
TRAFFIC CHAOS DUE TO ROAD WORKS IN KONIA - Filenews 11/3 by Dora Christodoulou
The works carried out on the main avenue leading from the Paphos-Limassol motorway roundabout to the community of Konia, have caused an unprecedented inconvenience and traffic jams at all hours of the day. From the junction of the EAC traffic lights to the entrance of the motorway to Limassol, the main avenue and the roads leading to it or to the traffic junction, present an unprecedented image for Paphos, with kilometer-long queues of cars moving at a snail's pace, even at times of the day that are not considered peak.