Cyprus Epidemiology and Public Health Association

19/07/2025

Check out the programme of this year’s EPH Conference "Investing for Sustainable Health and Well-being", highlighting that improving population health and well-being is an investment, not an expense.

◾ Opening session, Wed 12 Nov, 11:45–12:45, with Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Office for Europe Regional Director for Europe.

◾ Transforming economies for and well-being, Wed 12 Nov, 14:00–15:00. Organised by European Commission, DG SANTE, OECD and Martin McKee, moderator, United Kingdom

◾ Public health in the era of and , Wed 12 Nov, 18:00–19:00. Organised by European Public Health Association - EUPHA , with Seema Yasmin, Emmy Award-winning journalist, USA, and Götz Gottschalk, Google, Germany.

◾ Advancing in all policies, Thu 13 Nov, 10:30–11:30. Organised by WHO/Europe, with Natasha Azzopardi Muscat (WHO/Europe), Ian Power, Ireland, Marta Puciłowska, Poland, Marie Folker, Denmark, and Silja Kosola, Finland.

◾ Tackling and determinants through policy and governance, Thu 13 Nov, 14:00–15:00. Organised by EuroHealthNet, with Ilona Kickbusch, Switzerland, Sandro Galea, USA, Mika Salminen, Finland, and Anna Gilmore, United Kingdom.

◾ Investing in the health to build sustainable health , Fri 14 Nov, 10:30–11:30. Organised by The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region-ASPHER, EHMA, and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

19/07/2025

The programme for the upcoming EPH Conference, 12–14 November 2025 in Helsinki is now live. You can browse the Conference Programme online in the following link (to access the interactive format you need to log in with your EUPHA username/password).

https://ephconference.eu/app/programme/index.php

There will be great participation from Cyprus this year - probably, the largest in recent years spanning Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου | University Of Cyprus, Cyprus University of Technology / Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου European University Cyprus University of Nicosia Medical School Υπουργείο Υγείας Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία ΓεΣΥ - Οργανισμός Ασφάλισης Υγείας

With important contributions in varied areas and themes, from Chronic diseases, Mental Health, and Maternal-Child Health to Health Literacy, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to Health Systems, Policy, Guidelines, Regulations and Public Health Preparedness - addressing the health and healthcare needs of varied population groups and communities - looking forward to it!

◾ Long-term disparities in : A population-based study in Cyprus (2000–2015)
◾ Shifting patterns of a lifestyle among Cypriots: retrospective investigation
◾ Risk-based screening: Acceptability and perceptions among Cypriot women
◾ Health and digital health literacy linked to in Greece and Cyprus
◾ Health literacy in relation to : Systematic review of observational studies
◾ The COM-B Readiness to Promote Questionnaire for Healthcare Professionals in Europe
◾ Exploring fear of future among in Cyprus: A cross-sectional study
◾ Health Profiling of University in Cyprus: the PrePARE for Life Study
◾ The prevalence of symptoms in early in Cyprus
◾ Exploring women’s experiences of care: A mixed-methods study in Cyprus and Croatia.
◾ Assessing midwives’ in Cyprus using the HP-CSS Tool: A mixed-methods study
◾ Implementation of Infant & Family-centred practices in Cyprus Units
◾ A mixed method study to explore knowledge, attitudes, behaviour and experience of
◾ Improving summary quality in Cyprus’ general health : a national evaluation framework.
◾ Assessing quality among primary care paediatricians within Cyprus' general health system.
◾ Health literacy as a determinant of healthcare in : a systematic review
◾ A one health approach from Cyprus: a framework for EU public health and

Also, two highlights:
🟢Scientific session: Adapting across different national settings: lessons learnt from adapting NICE guidelines,
◾ Why do we adapt guidelines?
◾ Cyprus healthcare in transition: the challenges of a newly established system in a small country.
◾ Contextualization of guidelines: Experiences in Cyprus following collaboration with UK NICE.
◾ Quality indicators and guidelines.

and
🟢 Round table: Fostering synergies between EU Funding programmes to supports the

Login with your EPH / EUPHA account to update your own online programme.Your personal programme can be accessed from any desktop, tablet or mobile.

08/07/2025

from warns against the “lifestyle drift” in health promotion. “We can’t improve NCD outcomes without tackling the root causes—inequalities in wealth, power, and opportunity.”

Every year our Region sees 1.8 million avoidable deaths from noncommunicable diseases ( ). 60% of these deaths could be prevented though better public health measures, and the remaining 40% with effective treatment.

Read more in the new WHO/Europe report on avoidable mortality, risk factors and policies for tackling NCDs 👉 https://bit.ly/4nDm5TU

05/07/2025

Cancer Performance of the European Cancer Inequalities Registry.

It was developed by the OECD to complement the Country Cancer Profiles for the EU27, Norway and Iceland, by providing a of the country’s performance compared to the EU level and over time across several cancer domains: cancer prevention, early detection, cancer care capacity, and cancer care outcomes.

The Cancer Performance Tracker for the EU27, Norway and Iceland was developed by the OECD to complement the Country Cancer Profiles. It provides a snapshot of the country’s performance compared to the EU level and over time across several cancer domains: cancer prevention, early detection, cancer ...

05/07/2025

Despite Progress, Persist

🎯 Europe’s target is ambitious: 70:35 – achieving 70% average 10-year survival for all cancer patients by 2035.

But significant inequalities persist —across and within countries —and are deeply tied to socio-economic and socio-geographic as well as differences in health performance.

🚨 Where do these inequalities occur?

■ Primary programmes (e.g. tobacco/alcohol control, obesity, reducing exposure to risk factors)
■ and early detection, diagnostic services and **timely follow-up
■ Treatment and to advanced therapies
■ of care, linked to health system performance
■ and rates

These gaps exist across the cancer continuum —from prevention to early detection, treatment, and outcomes. As a result, not everyone has the same chance to beat cancer.

📊 The European Cancer Commission warns that cancer research capacity and outcomes are becoming increasingly uneven across Europe, urging action now.

🧠 To address this, the Commission calls for reimagining cancer research with 12 key recommendations for a data-driven, equity-focused strategy, including:
■ Broadening focus beyond pharmaceuticals to include prevention, early diagnosis, and survivorship
■ Integrating health policy and systems research, especially implementation science
■ Engaging policymakers and stakeholders at all levels
■ Promoting patient-centred research driven by real-world needs

05/07/2025

Endorse the Larnaka Call to strengthen European cooperation in control.

Thr Call identifies four specific goals:

■ That the Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council, starting in 2026, be used as a to renew the political mandate for pan-European cooperation in cancer policy and research;

■ That the Cypriot Presidency initiates, in consultation with Member States and relevant stakeholders, a commitment to action against cancer for years to come;

■ That the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) provides the necessary to continue and sustain all cancer-related programmes launched under the current framework;

■ That pan-European cooperation in cancer policy should reduce in cancer control, both between and within countries. This includes equitable access to cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, multimodal cancer treatment and multidisciplinary care.

04/07/2025

📣 CHILDREN FIRST in the EU Parliament about human exposome

The Cypriot Children's Health and Environment Observatory has participated in a high-level political event hosted at the European Parliament on 1 July 2025, dedicated to the human exposome.

During the event we explored on how a better understanding of the exposome can inform a new, more holistic approach to Health Prevention. 💡

We were more than happy to report on the numerous applications of human exposomics in children's health.

By presenting the example of our CHILDREN FIRST health Observatory 👨‍🏫

Ideas and knowledge have been exchanged among experts, policymakers, civil society actors, and institutional leaders. 🗣

Thank you and congratulations to Christophe Clergeau for the excellent organisation of this exposome related policy event in the EU Parliament. 🙏

Παιδιατρική Εταιρεία Κύπρου
AbleBook
Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health - CII
Cyprus University of Technology / Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου
Biobank.cy
Ερευνητικό και Εκπαιδευτικό Ινστιτούτο Υγεία του Παιδιού
Phoebe Research and Innovation
C.P. Foodlab LTD

30/06/2025

🗣️ Communicating Health Is More Than Informing — It’s About Challenging with Empathy 💬❤️

Changing behavior isn’t just about repeating messages. It’s about activating, not just informing — with empathy, positivity, and personalization.

So how do we communicate to inspire action?

✨ 1. Highlight Gains, Not Fears
❌ “If you don’t get vaccinated, you might get sick.”
✅ “Getting vaccinated is a simple step to keep your health protected — today and into the future.”
➡️ Focus on immediate, concrete benefits to reduce resistance.

✨ 2. Offer Challenges, Not Orders
❌ “Get vaccinated now.”
✅ “Can you think of 3 reasons to protect yourself this winter? Here’s one: proximity. Your local pharmacy is ready to welcome you.”
➡️ Use questions and micro-challenges to spark curiosity and autonomy.

✨ 3. Use Empathy and Positive Social Norms
❌ “Some still resist vaccination…”
✅ “Over 80% of your peers have already protected themselves — and share the same concern: taking care of those around them.”
➡️ Show that positive action is already the norm.

✨ 4. Make the Path Clear and Effortless
✅ “Got a text from your pharmacy? Just confirm the date — protection is just around the corner.”
➡️ Remove friction and reinforce a sense of control.

📊 What Did Portugal’s 2023/24 Campaign Teach Us?

Positive attitudes were the strongest predictor of future uptake
Human, empowering communication makes a difference
When we listen more and command less, people respond better
💡 Communicating positively doesn’t mean downplaying the issue — it means empowering the solution. It’s about aligning strategy with humanity.

This is the heart of the co-OPERATOR project: collaborative, people-first public health rooted in empathy, equity, and real-world impact.

27/06/2025

27/06/2025

A political choice!

Noncommunicable diseases are not just health issues—they are a political choice.

Today, they lead to 1.8 million deaths that can be avoided!

🆕WHO/Europe report explains that the high burden of NCDs is not inevitable. We know how to turn this around.

❗The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the Region’s progress. Now, many countries are off track to meet 2025 & 2030 NCD targets.

The NCD Trends Report 2025 outlines a roadmap for action:

📌 Reduce risk factors
📌 Improve access to care
📌 Use data to drive progress
📌 Tackle commercial & environmental determinants

A must-read for policymakers: https://bit.ly/4kW5SYp