THE CYPRUS WEEKLY OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2010 LOCAL NEWS 9 Action call for rheumatic disease There is an urgent need for a national strategy on the prevention, treatment and research of rheumatic diseases in Cyprus, members of the House Human Rights Committee stressed this week. Akel MP Dina Akkelidou said prevention was imperative for all forms of rheumatic diseases and includes lifestyle guidelines starting as early as childhood. Marking World Anti-Rheumatism Day, the Cyprus Anti-Rheumatism Association told the committee that rheumatic diseases affect 35,000 Cypriots and if osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (which belong to the group of degenerative rheumatic diseases) are included, the number exceeds 200,000. Akkelidou hailed the recent creation of a national committee to draft a strategy to deal with rheumatic problems. Association President Marios Kouloumas said that prevention for degenerative rheumatic diseases should begin in childhood with the right nutrition, weight control and physical exercise. For inflammatory rheumatic diseases, timely diagnosis is imperative. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis have nothing to do with inflammatory rheumatic diseases which affect younger people, aged 2040. Kouloumas added that the necessary medication is available today, preventing any damage as long as the problem is diagnosed early. Rheumatic diseases are serious and chronic health problems affecting all age groups, mainly individuals in the most productive period of their life. Their cause is unknown and they can affect vital organs of the human organism. They are the main cause of handicap internationally. The Cyprus Anti-Rheumatism Association was established 26 years ago and currently numbers 4,000 members. The Association offers support to people suffering from rheumatic problems and assists them with finding jobs. Association Vice-President Iosifina Stylianou said that a European study has shown that 60% of people suffering from rheumatic diseases are forced to give up their jobs because they are unable to work. The same study showed that expenditure in the EU for the treatment and social support of people suffering from rheumatic arthritis is more than €70 b. There are 11 rheumatism specialists in Cyprus of whom only two are employed in state hospitals. The association’s demands include manning of state hospitals with rheumatism specialists and promote the establishment of a rheumatism clinic in Cyprus. No epidemiological study on rheumatic diseases has so far been carried out in Cyprus. DM Cyprus and Bulgaria mark 50 years of friendship By Demetra Molyva C yprus and Bulgaria are celebrating half a century of official links. Bulgaria was one of the first countries to recognise Cyprus and now the island is one of the biggest investors in the Balkan country. Cypriot investments in Bulgaria for 1996-2009 are estimated at €1.9b. Ambassador in Nicosia, Vesselin Valchev, said relations between the two countries are excellent and his country, on October 30, 1960, was one of the first countries to recognise the independence of Cyprus. “We have had 50 years of intensive cooperation in all fields. After the 1974 Turkish invasion, several thousand Cypriot refugees were granted asylum in Bulgaria. “They were mainly working in the construction industry and there is still an area in Bulgaria called Cypriot Houses. “There were many mixed marriages and some of them married in Bulgaria and others came back with their Bulgarian spouses to live in Cyprus,” Valchev told The Cyprus Weekly. “During the last 50 years, several thousand Cypriot students were granted scholarships to study in Bulgaria and key government figures, like L abour Minister Sotiroulla Charalambous and Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou, as well as a number of MPs who have studied in Bulgaria. When Bulgaria became an EU member, Cyprus was the first to ratify its membership.” Cypriot investments in Bulgaria are in trade (30%), real estate and business services (24%), construction (6.3%), transport communication and storage (5.4%) and food production 3.3%. According to the Cyprus-Bulgaria Business Association, Bulgarian investments in Cyprus in 2008 amounted to €123,3m related to property management and financial institutions. Exports to Bulgaria 2005-2009 hovered around €2.8m to €5.5m. with an 18% increase in 2009. Imports for the same period hovered around €34m- €81m. Celebrating the links Marking the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus and 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the embassy of Bulgaria in Nicosia is organising and co-organising a number of events, including the fifth Festival of Bulgarians Living in Cyprus at 5pm, on October 16, at the Phinikoudes stage, Larnaca. The festival is an annual event organised by the Bulgarian newspaper in Cyprus and will include folk songs, dance and typical Bulgarian cuisine. A photo exhibition of UNESCO World Heritage sites in Bulgaria and Cyprus will be staged at 7.30pm, on November 15, at the Education Ministry in Nicosia. On November 24 at 8pm there will be a concert at Castelliotissa, Nicosia, along with a joint photo exhibition entitled ‘Two Homelands - One Love” by Bulgarian photographer Genevieve Georgieva and Cypriot photographer Charalambos Astaniu, under the patronage of First Lady Elsi Christofias. Educational ties More than 800 students from Cyprus today study in Bulgaria and, after the country’s EU accession, many Bulgarians came to live and work in Cyprus. Around 14,000 are registered as living and working here but it is believed the number is much higher than that. Bulgarians here are employed in all sectors and there are a number of doctors and musicians, as well as people involved in tourism and a few housemaids. DOCTOR’S ANNOUNCEMENT Dr. Carola ARTEMIOU MD General Practitioner University of Vienna • General Medical Care – Family Doctor • Prevention and Screening • Vaccinations • Acupuncture German/English/Greek/French For Appointments: Arch. Makariou III 21, Corner Michael Charilaou, Chloe Court, Apt. 101, 4000 Mesa Yitonia, Lemesos Tel: 25 373701, E-mail: [email protected]