16 December 2008
The goal of the Seminar was to highlight the under representation of the Mediterranean Community on the bone marrow donor register, to dispel the myths on bone marrow donation and to promote the Charity’s patient befriending scheme, encouraging more volunteers to enrol.
Two professionals also spoke at the seminar, Consultant Haematologists Dr. Hara Kyriacou and Dr Panos Kottarides who presented facts and statistics on the disease and answered many questions from those present. The discussion that followed shed a light on why people are proving reluctant to join the register and what more the charity, with the support of the community, can do to create more awareness. Ideas were exchanged about the way we can organise activities/programs and further improve the services, that the Charity is offering to cancer patients and family members now.
The Leukaemia Society’s in house Counselor, Sophie Kyriakides highlighted the benefits of patient befriending. Just having someone with whom to talk can be therapeutic and makes a tremendous difference to the patient’s wellbeing.
Maria Nicolaou, chairman of The Leukaemia Society said ‘The seminar was very successful, and my thanks go especially to the speakers, but also to the debate participants, the management of the Penridge  and others present. It is clear that haematology and oncology are two of the main themes in the discussion of healthcare and its organisation. Judging from the reactions of the participants, it will be beneficial to repeat this seminar at some time’.
For more information please Contact Us