My mother was born in 1900 and died in 1940. She graduated from the Faneromeni
Teacher Training College, but never practiced her profession as well-off young
ladies of the time never worked. She married my father as an arranged marriage,
who was at the time professor at the Agricultural College. When I was 13, my
mother died due to operative complications while on the operating table. I am a
pediatrician since 1956. The ministry of Health employed me in 1962 and was
posted in the Famagusta hospital. It was the first time that a woman doctor was
employed by the government. I worked from 08.00 to 15.00 and 15.00 to 17.00
except from Saturday and Sunday. Innitially I was the only pediatrician in the
Famagusta Hospital, where I created and set up its Pediatric section. I was on
duty on a 24 hour basis seven days a week. I was later transferred to the
Nicosia General Hospital where I worked, with two other pediatricians, until my
retirement. Each pediatrician would be on-call for one whole week. Very often I
would have to work through the night, and still work my normal schedule the day
after. During this period (1962, 1963, 1965) I had my three last children. At
that time we were only allowed one-month maternity leave.
My dream has always been to have a large family and have a career. I brought up
five children, and believe that I had a successful career. I received two
important awards by the Pancyprian Medical Association and by the Association of
Pediatricians.