CIVIL SOCIETY: 269 PRACTICES
Mission ANTHROPOS is a Greek nonprofit, Non Governmental Organisation, founded in 2010 with the aim to provide free and without discrimination medical support to vulnerable people, who do not have access to the NHS.
Read more: www.missionanthropos.com
The purpose of the program is the immediate response to the medical and pharmaceutical needs that emerge in Greek society at a time when the socio-economic crisis exacerbates inequalities and leads many of our fellow citizens to lose access to the National Health System.
Through the program, personalized and non-discriminatory support is provided to children and adults, Greeks, immigrants and refugees. The proposed action focuses mainly on vulnerable groups, such as those of the elderly - low-pensioners, unaccompanied minors and refugees, responding to a range of medical and pharmaceutical needs.
The program started in February 2013 and continues to this day. It will continue as long as there are needs that are not covered by state agencies and as long as its financial support is ensured.
The program "Stiri-zume: Medical care for all" was launched in February 2013 after research and dialogue with civil society, during which the need for medical care of vulnerable population groups who do not have access to the public health system was identified.
The program aims to immediately respond to people's medical and pharmaceutical needs, which are emerging at the time of the current socio-economic and unprecedented humanitarian crisis that the country is experiencing, leading to the impoverishment of Greek society.
Due to the crisis, a significant number of people lost their access to the National Health System due to financial weakness and/or due to the absence or loss of insurance coverage, as a result of unemployment or debts to their insurance provider. At the same time, there are many who, despite the existence of insurance coverage, are required to cover themselves the ever-increasing number of pharmaceutical preparations that
are "off the list" or special medical needs not covered by the funds, without having the financial resources. Also, economically weaker families as well as elderly people with low pensions face difficulties in covering their participation in prescription drugs. Through the program, our fellow human beings who are in need, regain hope for the improvement of their health and new self-confidence for the course of their lives.
Vulnerable populations have the opportunity to carry out necessary diagnostic tests and prevent serious future complications in their health sector, while the needs of beneficiaries, who are at the end of their lives and seek a dignified end, can be met, a fact that is neglected in the country us.
Due to the way the program is implemented, its results are immediate and its effect on the prevention, treatment and overall promotion of the health of the beneficiaries is particularly important.
From the start of the program up until August 2019, 1,922 medical and pharmaceutical requests concerning infants, children and adults, Greeks, immigrants and refugees have been completed.
The requests covered were related to:
Medical tests (laboratory tests, x-rays, CT/MRI scans, u/s, scintigrams), pregnancy medical tests (cervical scan, second-level u/s, doppler), participation in medical examination and/or medication, medication / consumables (feminine catheters, diabetes consumables, oxygen meters, etc.), special infant/child milks and vaccines, personal care and hygiene products (e.g. incontinence diapers, pads, etc.), treatments (chemotherapy, oxygen therapy, physical therapy, injection therapy for osteoporosis, speech therapy, etc.), medical procedures/surgeries/births, medical visits, dental / orthodontic treatment, orthopedic items (knee pads, orthopedic shoes, splints, silicone pads, etc.), wheelchairs, hospital beds, artificial limbs, oxygen devices, hearing aids , corrective eyeglasses, medical equipment/first aid kits etc.
More specifically, from February 2013 to December 2013, 36 requests were completed, of which 12 covered the medical needs of children and 24 of adults.
In 2014, 106 requests were covered, of which 54 related to medical and pharmaceutical needs of children and 52 of adults.
In 2015, 211 requests were completed. Of these, 76 covered medical and pharmaceutical needs of children and 135 of adults.
In 2016, 366 requests were completed. Of these, 85 covered the medical and pharmaceutical needs of children and 281 of adults.
In 2017, 534 requests were completed. Of these, 55 covered the medical and pharmaceutical needs of children and 479 of adults.
In 2018, 524 requests were completed. Of these, 29 covered medical and pharmaceutical needs of children and 495 of adults.
Finally, from January 2019 until August 2019, 145 requests of any medical and pharmaceutical nature have been covered.
The above numbers show the ever-increasing trend of covering medical and pharmaceutical needs and the continuous increase in the number of our fellow human beings in need.
The program is implemented in the Prefectures of Aitoloakarnania, Attica, Arta, Achaia, Drama, Evia, Thessaloniki, Corinthia, Xanthi and Chania.
For the implementation of the program, the organization Mission ANTHROPOS collaborates on a daily basis with social workers from a wide and ever-expanding network of cooperating agencies. The network of collaborating organizations that participate in the program extends to 10 Prefectures and includes 80 collaborating organizations. Specifically: 21 Municipal Social Services, 5 Public Hospitals, 45 public benefit organizations, 7 elderly care units, the Social Service of the Cyprus Embassy in Athens and the Agricultural Detention Center of Agia.
The program is implemented by two full-time employees.
1) The program has won the trust of important Public Beneficial Foundations ensuring its uninterrupted funding from 2013 to date. Since its inception, the program has been supported by the P. & A. Kanellopoulou Foundation, the A. G. Leventis Foundation, the Bodosaki Foundation, the TIMA Charitable Foundation, the National Bank through the crowdfunding platform Act4Greece, the non-profit character of Hellenic Hope, the Love Rocks Committee through the humanitarian organization Lifeline Humanitarian Organization and the non-profit association DESMOS, private companies in the context of their CSR, as well as private individuals/natural persons.
2) The organization continues to accept requests for the inclusion of organizations in its network of cooperating bodies.
3) The course of the program to date and its constant support validate the transparency and effectiveness of the organization's actions, encourage new collaborations, confirm the dedication of the staff and volunteers, thus ensuring not only the continuity of its programs but also the planning of more actions that respond to the needs of society.
