Section SOCIETY
TOPIC

HYGEIA GROUP

“Travelling for Health”

In 2013, HYGEIA designed and implemented the program "We travel for health", with the aim of meeting the needs of the inhabitants of small islands and mountain communities that do not have easy access to medical services. The program was based on the voluntary participation not only of doctors, but and HYGEIA workers (nursing administrative and technical staff. Doctors and staff rallied and organized a human aid campaign.

Armed with the leading medical services of HYGEIA and with the state-of-the-art technological equipment of its Clinics, employees travel and offer medical and diagnostic tests with respect and love. But what happens in practice? We prepare each trip intensively, organize it and transport the necessary equipment and medical machines to the remote area with HYGEIA vehicles, turning schools, student dormitories or conference centers into hospital "outpatient clinics". There, residents come freely to be examined by multiple medical specialties. Also, depending on the needs of each region, the HYGEIA Administration offers, where there is a need, machines, medicines and consumables that will be able to meet the future needs of the residents.

To date, there have been 11 voluntary campaigns, more than 11,166 residents have been examined and more than 43,158 medical and diagnostic tests have been carried out.

To residents of areas that do not have easy access to medical services.

We started in 2013 and since then we choose one or two destinations every year. The action is ongoing.

1st mission: Agathonisi, Leipsoi and Fournoi

On July 18 and 19, a group of 38 volunteers of HYGEIA, consisting of 15 doctors of 12 different specialties, nursing, technical and administrative staff traveled to Agathonisi and Leipsoi and performed free medical examinations for the residents of the islands. The examinations were carried out at the rural clinic in Agathonisi and at the multi-functional regional clinic in Leipsoi. At the same time, free health and pharmaceutical materials were offered to the municipalities of the islands, including the Municipality of Fournoi, which was also offered a defibrillator.

2nd mission: Karpenissi

On October 18 and 19, a team of 56 HYGEIA volunteers, consisting of 26 doctors from 14 different specialties, nursing, technical and administrative staff, traveled to Karpenissi, where they examined approximately 1,200 residents of Evrytania and conducted 3,500 free medical and diagnostic tests. The exams were held at the Karpenissi Conference Center. At the same time, a pediatric wheeled resuscitation cart with its equipment and a color ultrasound scanner was offered to the Karpenissi hospital.

3rd mission: Karpathos

On June 27 & 28, a group of 80 HYGEIA volunteers, consisting of doctors, nurses, technical and administrative staff, traveled to Karpathos, where they examined approximately 1,100 residents of the island and performed 3,500 free medical and diagnostic tests. The examinations were carried out by a group of 38 doctors, 13 different specialties at the 1st Primary School of Pigadian Karpathos and the Polyclinic of Olympus. 5 emergencies were treated medically while HYGEIA offered the Karpathos Health Center an oxygen concentrator, two computers, two printers as well as health/pharmaceutical material.

4th mission: Kalavryta

On November 14 & 15, a group of 84 HYGEIA volunteers, consisting of doctors, nurses, technical and administrative staff, traveled to Kalavryta, where they examined 1,500 residents and performed 5,000 free medical and diagnostic tests. The examinations were carried out by a group of 31 doctors, 14 different ones, and medical and pharmaceutical material was offered to the Health Center.

5th mission: Kalabaka

On November 13 & 14, a group of 100 HYGEIA volunteers, consisting of doctors, nurses, technical and administrative staff, traveled to Kalabaka, where they examined 2,000 residents and carried out 12,000 free medical and diagnostic tests, in a hotel conference room, by a team of 40 doctors, 16 different specialties. At the same time, HYGEIA offered the Kalabakas Health Center a defibrillator, blood pressure monitors as well as pharmaceutical and health equipment.

6th mission: Leros

On July 8 & 9, a group of 110 volunteers, consisting of doctors, nurses, technical and administrative staff of the Group, traveled to the island on a SuperFast Ferries ship, where they examined 1,450 residents and performed almost 6,000 free medical and diagnostic tests. The examinations were carried out at the Alinton Primary School by a team of 39 doctors, 16 specialties, while HYGEIA doctors also visited 5 patients at home.

HYGEIA also offered: to the Primary School of Alinton a multi-machine - printer, DVD player, computer and curtains, food items (non-perishable food) & cleaning supplies to the Social Grocery Store of the Municipality and office furniture with chairs to the Police Department of the island. The volunteers also visited the State Hospital and donated frozen products, offered by BARBA STATHIS, milk, yogurt, juices and tea, offered by DELTA and clothing, bed linen, household appliances and cleaning products, offered by HYGEIA. At the hotspot, they distributed milk, tea, juices and cereal bars to the migrants present, an offer from the DELTA company and toys for the children, an offer from HYGEIA. At the Isidoreio Ecclesiastical Nursing Home of Leros, they offered juices, milk, tea as well as long-lasting food, while at the same time they proceeded to donate a sum of money. They also offered the Municipality 75 vaccines for staff vaccination.


7th mission: Leros Tilos and Nisiros

HYGEIA was in Tilos and Nisiros in July 2017 offering free medical and diagnostic tests to the residents in the 7th consecutive action of the "Traveling for Health" program, which is part of its Corporate Responsibility actions. A group of 60 volunteers consisting of doctors (26 doctors of 16 specialties), nursing, technical and administrative staff, offered free health services to the residents of these two remote islands. The diagnostic tests carried out included hematological tests, ultrasounds, vascular triplex, pap-test, cardiograms, heart triplex, spirometry and ophthalmological tests. Residents had the opportunity to be examined by as many medical specialties as they wished, while 20 minor operations and 5 home visits were successfully carried out. Both the residents of Tilos and Nisiros welcomed this action with emotion, while at the same time they expressed their enthusiasm for the level of service, the friendly approach and the perfect organization. In total, 684 residents were examined and 3,153 medical and diagnostic tests were performed. A point of reference in Tilos was the emergency incident of a pregnant vacationer from Israel, where the early diagnosis of the seriousness of the problem by the gynecologists who participated in the expedition saved her life.

8th mission: Argos Orestiko

Continuing the health offer, the group of HYGEIA volunteers traveled in November 2017 to Argos Orestiko, where they offered free health services to the residents. In total, more than 4,000 tests were performed on approximately 1,100 residents by the team of volunteers. The team consisted of 31 doctors from 16 specialties, as well as 40 volunteers from the nursing, technical and administrative staff of HYGEIA. The diagnostic tests carried out included hematological tests, pap-tests, ultrasounds of the body and vessels, cardiograms, heart triplex and ophthalmological tests. It is worth noting that 2 very serious cases were diagnosed, which were immediately transported by the HYGEIA ambulance to the Kastoria hospital for further treatment, while most residents were examined by whatever medical specialties they wished.

9th mission: Symi

HYGEIA traveled to unspoiled Symi to offer free health services to the island's residents, in its 9th volunteer campaign, as part of the Corporate Responsibility program "Traveling for Health", on Saturday June 30 and Sunday July 1, 2018. In total, around 2,100 examinations were carried out on 581 residents by the group of HYGEIA volunteers, while at the same time two home visits were carried out. The team consisted of 28 doctors from 16 specialties as well as 32 volunteers from the nursing, technical and administrative staff of the HYGEIA companies.

10th mission: Argithea Agrafon

HYGEIA offered free health services in its 10th consecutive volunteer campaign in the mountainous Vrangiana of the Municipality of Argithea in Karditsa, as part of the Corporate Responsibility program "Traveling for Health", on Saturday 21 July 2018.

A team of 11 doctors from 10 specialties as well as 16 volunteers from the nursing, technical and administrative staff of the HYGEIA companies traveled – for the second time in July – to offer free health services and performed 575 tests on 121 residents of the area. The exams took place in the premises of the Vrangian High School, which had been granted by the municipality and had been properly configured by the technical staff of HYGEIA. The specialties of the participating physicians were: Radiologists, Gynecologists, Dermatologists, Cardiologists, Orthopedics, Urologists, Ophthalmologists, Pathologists, Rheumatologists and ENT. The diagnostic tests performed included blood tests, pap-tests, body ultrasounds, cardiograms and heart triplex.

11th mission: Sifnos

In total, in Sifnos, more than 2,330 examinations were performed on approximately 630 residents by the team of HYGEIA volunteers. The team consisted of 28 doctors from 17 specialties as well as 35 volunteers from the nursing, technical and administrative staff of HYGEIA. The specialties of the participating physicians were: vascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, gynecologists, dermatologists, cardiologists, neurologists, orthopedics, urologists, ophthalmologists, pathologists, pediatricians, pulmonologists, surgeons & breast surgeons, plastic surgeons and otolaryngologists. The diagnostic tests performed included hematological tests, pap-tests, ultrasounds of the body and vessels, cardiograms, heart triplex, spirometry, eye tests and biopsies.
 

Active participation by all HYGEIA employees.

Greece

We continue in practice to support our fellow human beings in need and to offer health services to residents who do not have easy access to medical services.

In the context of this social action, the volunteer workers and doctors of HYGEIA have the opportunity to offer selflessly to their fellow man, receiving on an individual level feelings and experiences of inestimable value. At the same time, communication between employees and doctors is cultivated, as well as communication at every level of management, creating strong bonds for the group of all the people who make up HYGEIA. Because at HYGEIA we defend the good of HEALTH and offer health services from the heart to all our fellow human beings, all together.