DISY has appointed Alexia Potamitou to oversee social welfare on its Government Policy Monitoring Council, following Tina Pavlou’s appointment as Deputy Minister of Social Welfare.
The announcement followed a meeting between Potamitou and DISY president Annita Demetriou, as the party seeks to strengthen the council with professionals who have specialised knowledge and experience.
Focus on social policy
Welcoming Potamitou, Demetriou said social welfare requires knowledge, sensitivity and meaningful engagement with society’s needs.
She expressed confidence that Potamitou would contribute both to monitoring government policies and developing proposals on social issues.
Potamitou thanked the DISY president for her confidence, saying she was taking on the role with a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to public service.
“Social welfare is first and foremost about people, their dignity and the ability of the state to stand beside them when they genuinely need it,” she said.
Professional background
Potamitou is a dietitian with more than 18 years of professional experience. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Dietetics from the United States and is currently completing a doctorate focusing on menopause and andropause.
Born in Athens, she later moved to Nicosia, where she completed secondary school. She initially studied medicine in Göttingen, Germany, before moving to the United States to pursue studies in dietetics.
She is described as Cyprus’ only accredited menopause dietitian and is a member of the North American Menopause Society. Her work covers conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and hypertension, as well as weight management and nutrition during perimenopause and menopause.
Potamitou has also written three nutrition books and one children’s book.
Nicholas Zoe Foundation
She is the founder and president of the Nicholas Zoe Foundation, a charitable organisation established in memory of her nine-year-old son, Nicholas, who died on October 24, 2023, following a battle with Ewing sarcoma.
Potamitou continues to live by her son’s motto: “Every breath counts.”
