PARE Interviews

Have you heard about the EULAR PARE Engagement Programme? 
Nele Caeyers, Chair of the EULAR PARE Communications Sub-Committee, interviews Andri Phoka, the President of the Cyprus League of People with Rheumatism (CYLPER), to get her insights of this project.

Nele: CYLPER has participated in the EULAR PARE Engagement Programme several times. Can you tell us about your experience?

Andri: The Cyprus League of People with Rheumatism (CYLPER) has already successfully applied for the EULAR PARE Engagement Programme twice. The EULAR President Xenofon Baraliakos visited us in 2024 as part of our 40th anniversary celebration. He held keynote speeches on the EULAR Manifesto and the latest developments in RMDs. In 2025, Professor Loreto Carmona, former EULAR Advocacy Committee Chair, spoke about remission in RMDs during our annual awareness week.

Nele: How were these interventions received by your members and the wider audience?

Andri: The participation and contributions of speakers from abroad showed the strong partnership between CYLPER and EULAR and were very well received by the audience. People always tend to compare, so it was good to hear from international speakers that our health-care system in Cyprus can match the European standards. We are a small country and often have the same speakers at events, which leads to narrow vision. Our EULAR guests allowed a different insight in the world of RMDs.

Nele: Some organisations may hesitate to invite international speakers because of language concerns. How did you overcome this?

Andri: Language might seem like a barrier when inviting an international speaker to your event. However, the programme includes budget for translation services. EULAR representatives are great speakers and add value to the event. Our members were very happy with their lively and clear presentations. So don’t let language stand in the way of this valuable opportunity.