The Cyprus Red Cross Home for Sick Children

The Cyprus Red Cross Home for Sick Children was established by the Cyprus Red Cross in 1957 for special care to sick and disabled children. Following various temporary housing arrangements, it finally acquired its own premises in Kyrenia using personnel and caring for children from all the communities of Cyprus.

After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in July 1974 and having overcome the initial serious repercussions, new premises with every facility for the care of children were built in Polemidhia, using aid given through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The new Cyprus Red Cross Home for Sick Children at Polemidhia started to function in 1980.

Unique in its kind in Cyprus, the Red Cross Home provides care for about 75 children aged 0-21 years, suffering from serious physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, various syndromes and other serious growth problems. Besides medical care and nursing, the children are offered physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, while being provided also with special aids to help them move more comfortably around.

A special school for school age children also functions in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Culture, providing specialized training and treatment, psychological support and other care. Special attention is given to the suitable entertainment of children, the creation of a family atmosphere for them and the general enhancement of their quality of life.

The results of treatment at the Home are touching and sometimes spectacular. The effort by the children themselves to overcome their disability is something to marvel at.

A truly dedicated personnel treats and looks after the children. A specialist pediatrician is in charge of general medical care. Depending on the needs, specialized medical care is also provided to the children. To the credit of Cypriot society, families with disabled children no longer want them to be institutionalized. For this reason, the boarding school that used to function in the Home is no longer needed, thus making possible the treatment of a considerably larger number of children on a daily basis.

The services provided at the Home are constantly being upgraded. More specialized medical services are now available on a regular basis, such as improved treatment by a more numerous and specialized medical personnel. Overseas specialists often visit the Home. The Home lacks nothing in equipment, which is constantly enhanced.

The treatment methods are adjusted to new concepts. On the recent initiative of the Cyprus Red Cross and in cooperation with the State Medical Services and St James University of Leeds, a new treatment for children suffering from cerebral palsy (Botulinum Toxin) has been introduced to Cyprus. This new treatment is already being applied successfully to a number of children at the Home.

The officials and the members of the central bodies and Branches of the Youth Section of the Cyprus Red Cross, all volunteers, embrace the Home with their love and care.

The running expenses of the Home are considerable. Apart from the Government Grant, which covers about 30%, the expenses are met by events and money collections organized throughout the year by the Branches and the Youth Section in all of the districts, as well as by volunteer contributions. The public also shows its support, a fact which is particularly appreciated.

An effort for restructuring and upgrading of the services provided by the Convalescence Home is under way in cooperation with the Government and other agencies involved, so as to bring these services in line with current needs and Government priorities and planning.