LONDON – Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, acting on behalf of the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, has conferred on Professor Kypros Nicolaides, distinguished in the field of foetal medicine, the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix for his exceptional work.
In statements at the ceremony held in London on Friday, Nicolaides noted that every minute, a woman somewhere in the world dies of the complications of childbirth and labor and that most of these deaths could have been avoided. A foremost figure in fetal medicine throughout the world, Nicolaides is credited with saving hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of children through his nuchal translucency ultrasound tests.
This is done between the 11th and 14th weeks of pregnancy and can promptly detect mutations leading to several genetic issues, such as Down’s Syndrome.
Nicolaides set up a charitable Fetal Medical Foundation in 1995 that has since spent more than 50 million euros in various countries on related programs, especially financing fetal medicine centers and offering scholarships for the training of doctors.
According to Dendias, the medal awarded to Nicolaides is given in recognition of his work both as a scientist and his contribution to those in need.
