The official launch of the European co-funded project CY-ESM (Cyprus Empowered Surveillance Mechanism) took place on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, in Limassol, marking the beginning of a collaboration between national and international stakeholders aimed at strengthening public health in Cyprus. The project aspires to establish a modern and integrated epidemiological surveillance mechanism for infectious diseases, capable of responding effectively to contemporary public health challenges.
CY-ESM is a consortium formed between the Medical and Public Health Services (MPHS) of the Ministry of Health, the Medical School of the University of Cyprus, the KIOS Center of Excellence for Research and Innovation, and the Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. The project is coordinated by the MPHS and the Medical School of the University of Cyprus, and it is co-funded by the European Union’s EU4Health programme, with a total budget of €3.5 million.
During the launch event, the project’s strategy and objectives were presented, with the participation of representatives from academia, national authorities, and European institutions. Welcoming remarks were delivered through their representatives by the Minister of Health, Mr. Michalis Damianou, and the Rector of the University of Cyprus, Professor Tasos Christofides. The event was also addressed by the project coordinators, Dr. Elisavet Constantinou, Director of the MPHS, and Dr. Georgios Nikolopoulos, Associate Professor at the University of Cyprus Medical School. Additionally, Dr. Panayiotis Kolios, Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Cyprus, spoke on behalf of the KIOS Center of Excellence for Research and Innovation.
The event featured a presentation by a representative of the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), who discussed the agency’s activities and the projects funded under the EU4Health programme. Also of note was the speech by a representative of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), who outlined strategies for strengthening disease surveillance systems across EU member states, highlighting the critical role of innovation and advanced surveillance technologies in safeguarding public health at the European level.
The presentations by the CY-ESM research team emphasized the following key implementation priorities:
- The “One Health” approach, aiming to interconnect data on human, animal, and environmental health to develop a holistic surveillance system.
- The complete digitization of surveillance systems, enabling real-time recording and analysis of health data.
- Enhanced collaboration with national and international partners to ensure a more effective response to public health challenges.
- The training and upskilling of health professionals through advanced and innovative methods of epidemiological surveillance and data analysis.
- The protection of population health through the implementation of early warning systems and innovative disease monitoring technologies.
For more information about the project, please visit: www.cy-esm.eu