The Circle of Dignitaries was initiated in 2009, with the objective of strengthening the work on improving the impact of TIF’s work in promoting awareness for haemoglobinopathies, and the development of national control programmes with the assistance and under the patronage and auspices of international dignitaries, including First Ladies. In the 1st meeting in early 2010, organised by TIF and hosted by the Cyprus First Lady, Mrs Elsi Christofia, the First Ladies of Albania and Lebanon participated, and the First Lady of Greece expressed her interest in a written message. It has been very difficult to achieve any further progress on this, but efforts continue. First Ladies have already set lines of priorities with reports to social/humanitarian work and it is very difficult to change that or integrate Hb disorders into their already heavy schedule of activities. A meeting with the First Lady of Syria took place on 5th November here in Cyprus after expressed interest from Her Excellency and gave TIF new hopes for enlargement of the Circle and establishment of a social basis. TIF again invited Her Excellency to join the project, and we are now waiting for her reply with greater optimism. We move forward to Bulgaria, Romania, Egypt and Morocco, hoping for their First Ladies’ participation and looking forward to having a better-attended meeting in 2011.
