Inauguration of the Panhellenic Center of Health Services and Social Care of the Organization “The Smile of the Child” and of the 1st Multi-Medical Center in the presence of HE the President of the Hellenic Republic
08 February 2019
PRESS RELEASE
Athens, 8 February 2019
Inauguration of the Panhellenic Center of Health Services and Social Care of the Organization “The Smile of the Child” and of the 1st Multi-Medical Center in the presence of HE the President of the Hellenic Republic
The inauguration of the Panhellenic Center of Health Services and Social Care of the Organization “The Smile of the Child” was held on Friday, the 8th of February 2019, in the presence of HE Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, President of the Hellenic Republic.
The ceremony was honored by the presence of the Minister of Health Mr. Andreas Xanthos, Member of the Hellenic Parliament and President of the Permanent Committee for Social Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Nikos Manios, representatives of institutional actors, medical and nursery staff from hospitals, supporters and precious volunteer doctors of the Organization.
In the opening of the event, the President of the BoD of “The Smile of the Child”, Mr. Costas Yannopoulos, welcomed and thanked the participants highlighting the longstanding and precious support of HE the President of the Hellenic Republic to the work of the Organization.
“The Smile of the Child” struggles and succeeds in providing free-of-charge integrated health services to every child nationwide thanks to its specialized multidisciplinary staff, supporters and volunteers. In 23 years of action, we have supported 214.655 children in a holistic manner in the health sector. I would like to highlight that our volunteers are doctors from across Greece, who work at the Hospitals, Health Centers, Medical and Dental Associations and take part, at the same time, in our actions by providing free-of-charge their precious services”, said Mr. Yannopoulos.
“Our goal is to stand by children and their families, supporting first and foremost the public institutions by empowering them and filling in the gaps. Today, we are very happy because we inaugurate the 1st Multi-Medical Center, which will cover the needs of children with health problems, putting emphasis on the difficulties of the families who often deal with welfare problems or face social exclusion. Once more we would like to thank our volunteer doctors, who will contribute as staff to our medical centers, in complementarity with our personnel”, he added.
In his speech, HE the President of the Hellenic Republic said: “My presence today at the new premises of the Panhellenic Center of Health Services and Social Care of the Organization “The Smile of the Child” reflects, among others, the emblematic contribution of the Organization to children, and basically to Society.
I should highlight the fact that during the times of the deep and harsh financial and social crisis in the country, still ongoing to a large extent, “The Smile of the Child” has not only continued its contribution relentlessly, but has also increased it in specific cases, filling in, for the benefit of children, important gaps that exist in the context of the activities that fall within the responsibility of the competent actors of State services. “The Smile of the Child” managed all this by enduring with dignity tax and other public burdens, from which under normal financial conditions it should have been excluded given the non-profit nature of its mission.
Lastly, I am happy because I am able to express, on the one hand, my warm congratulations once more to my friend Mr. Costas Yannopoulos and his colleagues for their work, which is inspired on a longstanding basis by the high principles and values of Humanism and Solidarity. On the other hand, I would like to assure them of my full support”.
The event was completed with two award ceremonies:
The company PAPAPOSTOLOU and its President Mr. Nikos Papapostolou were awarded for their important, steady and discreet support to the Organization, as well as their crucial support to all the actions of the Organization in the sector of Health. However, Mr. Papapostolou is a special individual for yet another reason: in the memory of his spouse Kaiti Papapostolou he covered in a substantial way the needs for the kick-off of the action “Pediatric Care at Home”.
The Foundation “Tzeni Karezi” was also awarded for its cooperation and contribution to the work of the Organization “The Smile of the Child” and the to-date hosting of the Center of Counseling and Psychological Support to children and adolescents.
The Panhellenic Center of Health Services and Social Care coordinates on a nationwide basis the actions in the field of Health, which include:
● Preventive Medicine and Dentistry for children, with 3 specialized Mobile Medical Units of Preventive Medicine and Dentistry
● Social and Psychological Support
● Transfers of newborns and children with specialized Medical Units of Intensive Care for newborns and children
● Recreational Activities for children at Hospitals
● Pediatric Care at Home for children with serious and chronic health problems
● Accommodation for families, whose children are hospitalized
● Multi-Medical Center
The Operational Center of the Organization, all its technical and logistical infrastructure and the National Helpline for Children SOS 1056 are at the disposal of the Multi-Medical Center 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
The 1st Multi-Medical Center targets every child with a health issue and has a fully equipped Pediatric, Opthalmology and Otolaryngology Medical Cente, as well as a doctor as scientific responsible for each specialty.
All the services of the Center, such as the abovementioned, will be provided free of charge, without any financial cost to the young patients and their families.
“The Smile of the Child” would like to warmly thank the Photoshop Company for the coverage of the event.
For more information, please contact us at press@hamogelo.gr or +30 210 33 06140.
