SHE GREECE
Why Greece?
Despite having world-class physicians and other medical personnel, the Greek healthcare system--overwhelmed with an influx of refugees, combined with ongoing economic austerity-- faces chronic shortages of medical supplies and equipment, both at big-city hospitals and in rural areas, where one clinic may serve thousands.
For example, at Kalamata Hospital, patients have had to provide their own bed linens; in Mani, an all-volunteer team provides emergency care and search and rescue operations; and five rural clinics SHE visited had no AEDs, though they are 1-3 hours from a hospital. These are just a few examples of the great need we found as we traveled throughout Greece.
GREECE’S HEALTH SYSTEM: More information on Greece’s health system can be found in this review conducted by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies in partnership with World Health Organization.
On-Site Scouting
Gaia First Responders
In September 2019, SHE board members Teri Tan (Greek-born) and Lynne Porter visited several clinics and hospitals to get a picture of health services there and determine what resources were most needed.
Our first-- very remarkable --encounter was with the GAIA volunteer organization, Stoupa, West Mani. This organization, staffed by 18 volunteers, is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit, privately-run organization.
They have been in existence for 6 years and serve the population of Stoupa and surrounding areas with emergency/ paramedical services, including, fire, search and rescue, auto accidents, drownings, snake bites, and other medical emergencies with their small fleet of ambulances, fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles, including a ‘cooking’ trailer that can prepare 1200 meals in 24 hours in the event of a disaster.
Beyond that, they respond to a number of other community needs, especially those centered around people living in poverty. They have four shipping containers in which they house donated clothing, food, furniture, electronics, etc. Additionally, they fundraise for those in need for such services as, limbs and physiotherapy for amputees—a recent case.
Agios Nikolaos Clinic
Also in Stoupa we visited Agios Nikolaos Clinic, part of the network that includes Kardymili and other small clinics. It is a small but very busy medical clinic that provides chronic and acute care services to the surrounding community (the area between Kalamata and Aeropoli, both about an hour-an hour and a half away in opposite directions).
Health Center at Aeropolis
We then traveled to the Health Center at Aeropolis. Considered a model clinic by the Ministry of Health, the Health Center Aeropolis, which provides both chronic and acute medical services, is directed by Dr. Mariolis, who oversees five small regional clinics in East Mani (Laconia) and collaborates with the previously mentioned groups. Operated by a much larger staff than its smaller counterpart in Stoupa, this clinic has a lab, some imaging services, a dental office, and a staff that includes a dentist, several doctors (some residents), and, added recently, a physical therapy department. Major surgeries, as with those clinics noted earlier, are referred to Kalamata Hospital.
Dr. Anargiros Mariolis is a much-loved physician and is considered a leader for both his region and the entire country of Greece. He is an exemplary doctor who is leading the fight against COVID-19, and bringing equitable healthcare to both his clinic and remote villages and small islands in the region. He has been bestowed prestigious awards including the Family Doctor of the Year for Excellence in Healthcare by the Family Doctors of the European Council (WONCA).
Kalamata Hospital
We then traveled back to Kalamata and spent time at the hospital and three clinics there. We were fortunate to meet with the hospital’s Assistant Director, Georgia Liakea, who told us among the hospital’s greatest needs is the constant shortage of medical supplies including catheters, blood collection vials, bandages, tubing. Even bed linens are in short supply and patients have had to supply their own. It was a real pleasure to visit the mayor’s office where we reported our work in the beautiful city of Kalamata.
Messini, Methoni, Koroni, & Pylos
Rural Clinics
Within thirty to forty kilometers of Kalamata, we also visited four other locations in Messini, Koroni, Methoni, and Pylos. The hospital of Kalamata is the closest serving hospital. , Messini and Pylos being the two largest clinics.
We went on to visit two other locations a few hours beyond Kalamata, where once again we found very competent doctors and staff running clinics on a shoestring budget. It says it all that every clinic we visited listed an AED as their first need—and yet here in the US, one can find them in every airport and gym!
Messini Methoni
Koroni Pylos
Resource Distribution Began in 2021
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our Board and a very generous donation by our Chief Medical Director, in early 2021, SHE arranged to have $15,000 of AEDs and CPR mannequins sent to 6 locations that we had identified on our scouting trip. We were able to purchase these items in Greece and have them sent to the various locations. This is just the beginning of our relationship with Greece and we are excited for a post-COVID collaborative project in Greece. We are hoping to send a container of equipment and supplies in the near future and to arrange for other projects.
About Greece
Greece is made up of one large mainland, the Peloponnesian Peninsula, and over 3,000 islands. Greece is a country rich in ancient history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant art, cuisine and culture.
