Cypriot health minister speaks from the heart

Cyprus Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou says that his responsibility and that of the government is to protect people’s health, adding it is an obligation stemming from the Constitution as well as his own conscience.

In a message posted on Facebook on Thursday, Ioannou wrote that he was aware of citizens’ protests over restrictive measures, adding that he shared many of the concerns that were being raised regarding problems at public hospitals.

But the minister asked members of the public for their understanding, noting that the situation they are called to handle is an unprecedented one. 

In this endeavour, Ioannou said, it is impossible to avoid making mistakes adding that he was ready to accept criticism. 

“We are doing everything humanly possible,” he said.

Ioannou also says that not even in his worst nightmares would he ever imagine that he would have to issue decrees restricting individual rights of fellow citizens, reiterating that this is not something done by choice, but out of necessity.

“I share your agony, I am also a member of this society, I have family, parents and children too,” the minister said, noting that he remained focused in the effort to fight the pandemic.