Background Information

Rita Elissaiou Komodiki, MD, MA, DPH, PhD

Rita Elissaiou Komodiki was raised in Kyrenia where she lived until July 1974. Her parents are Grigoris Elissaiou from Kyrenia and Antigoni Savvidou Elissaiou from Nicosia.

She graduated from the Primary School of Kyrenia and the Gymnasium of Kyrenia and went on to study Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She specialized in General Medical Practice and Hygiene before obtaining a Doctorate Degree at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a postgraduate degree in Public Health and a Master’s Degree in Health Services Management at the University of Leeds in the UK.

On March 1st 1974 Mrs Komodiki was appointed as doctor and was assigned to work at the Kyrenia District Hospital. In July 1974, when the Turkish invasion happened, she was on duty at the hospital and together with all members of staff who had managed to report for duty they decided to relocate the Hospital at the Bellapais Abbey, where a temporary hospital was established in order to treat the wounded. As soon as the Turkish army informed that they were going to occupy Bellapais, Mrs Komodiki, along with the Medical Superintendent, coordinated the hospital’s relocation to Kythrea, where they continued to treat casualties. When the Turkish army advanced towards Kythrea, she moved to the First Aid Department of the Nicosia General Hospital where she served during stage two of the Turkish invasion, as well as for the five following years.

Due to the fact that Mrs Komodiki had completed postgraduate studies, she was positioned in Administration, in the Head Offices of the Ministry of Health, where she was promoted to various administrative ranks of the Ministry. During the last three years before her retirement she was positioned at the Nicosia General Hospital where she served as the Hospital’s Executive Manager.