The Hellenic Initiative (THI) Australia announced a grant worth $28,500 (AUD) to the Pediatric Trauma Care (Pedtrauma) to buy much-needed medical equipment for the public health centres on the Greek islands of Skyros and Milos.
Skyros has a population of 3,000 people of whom 700 are children. The health centre on Milos sees over 2,500 children a year. THI Australia’s chief executive officer Stergitsa Zamagias-Hill said the grant would go some way to ensure that residents and visitors would receive adequate health care from the public health centres on the two islands.
“Small and remote island communities face additional challenges when it comes to accessing health care – from bad weather preventing patients from being transported to major islands for treatment, to the lack of financial resources to fund adequate care,” said Ms Zamagias-Hill.
The latest THI grant would provide for equipment that included a vein viewer, paediatric and neonatal blood pressure monitors, a resuscitation board, an immobilisation board, a portable oxygen bottle, a paediatric optometry table, a paediatric examination bed, a portable patient stretcher, an electronic stethoscope, gauzes, and a portable defibrillator.
“We look forward to these Centres receiving lifesaving medical equipment over the coming months and we thank our generous supporters in Australia who make such grants possible,” said The Hellenic Initiative Australia’s President, Nicholas Pappas AM.
The organisation has worked with Pedtrauma since 2018 and with grants totalling AU$164,980 it has helped in the provision of child care in hospitals in Alexandropoulos, Argos, Florina, Ioannina, Kastoria, Kythira, Patras, Thessaloniki, and the health centre at Galatas.
Pedtrauma monitors equipment bought by hospitals and health centres to ensure that they are well maintained.
* THI Australia welcome donations of $2 or more. The organisation is a registered charity and donations are fully tax-deductible in Australia. Donations can be made securely online at https://bit.ly/3mQKXdM