Filenews 12 June 2025 - by Dora Christodoulou
The proposal submitted on May 13 by the municipal councillor of Paphos, Antonis Christodoulou, for the establishment of a group of motorcycle rescuers, finds fertile ground in Paphos. The fact that the city of Paphos, especially during the summer months, experiences an impressive increase in the population due to tourist traffic, a fact that intensifies the need for immediate and flexible medical response to emergencies, made Antonis Christodoulou's proposal particularly welcome to tourism agencies and social institutions of the city and the province, recognizing that the operation of the Rapid Intervention Rescue Machine Team of the Ambulance Service It is indeed an immediate and essential need for the region.
Speaking to "F", the municipal councillor in the Municipality of Paphos, Antonis Christodoulou, pointed out that this issue was officially raised at the meeting of the Paphos Municipal Council in July 2024, focusing on the coastal front of Kato Paphos and pedestrian streets, areas with a particularly increased number of visitors and reduced accessibility for conventional ambulances.
This need is not theoretical, it is a daily experience for the residents, professionals and visitors of the area, who often witness delays in the provision of first aid due to dense traffic and limited access, emphasizes Mr. Christodoulou.
As a continuation of this effort, and after consultation with the Mayor of Paphos, a written letter was sent on August 5, 2024 to the Minister of Health, who from the very first moment showed real interest in the issue, he says. In February 2025, a second personal letter was sent to the Head of the Ambulance Service, as part of a continuous and targeted pressure on the competent bodies, in order to satisfy a fair and highly urgent request.
The full staffing of such a team will bring multiple benefits, estimates Antonis Christodoulou, mentioning indicatively, the immediate medical intervention in cases of cardiopulmonary arrest, injuries or fainting, where every second counts, epidemiological safety in high-density tourist zones, the reduction of pressure on the existing ambulance network, especially during peak hours and in remote locations, as well as the improvement of the image of Paphos' tourism product, offering a sense of security to visitors.
The network of Rapid Intervention Rescue Machines has proven its worth in major cities and tourist centers in Cyprus and abroad and Paphos cannot be left behind, Antonis Christodoulou concluded.
