The Medical Care of Children

Fundraising campaign by themed
  • US$0.00
    Donated So Far
Help this ongoing fundraising campaign by making a donation and spreading the word.
Show more
Show less
Refugee, Trafficked and Immigrant Children are in dire need of medical care and health support as the wars in Iraq and Syria cause waves of refugees that are escaping into Europe through Greece.  After unimaginable hardship, often having lost most if not all their family members, children arrive in the region having survived terrible hardship in traveling by foot for thousands of miles, and in decrepit boats, with no hygiene or basic medical care.  The lives of these children are at risk.  The monastery medical center in Ormylia provides medical care for these children.   Greece is the gate to Europe for children refugees of war from the Middle East, immigrants from the former Soviet Union, the Balkans, Asia and Africa. Many come from their home nations on illegal slave ships, with poor conditions and non existent safety precautions.  Hundreds of people lose their life at sea on the way to Greece.  A large number of these destitute people are youth and children who are sent to Greece to find their way into the European Union. Oftentimes, having lost all their loved ones in war, being helpless without parental care, children are forced into begging and other terrible shadow activities. According to the 2009 US State Department Report, Greece is a major destination and transit country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation and for men and children trafficked for the purpose for forced labor in sweat shops. Teenage girls are trafficked into forced prostitution and forced labor. Reports have been cited that there were many teenage male sex trafficking victims from Afghanistan and sub-Saharan Africa in Greece. Victims of trafficking for labor exploitation came mostly from Albania, Romania, Moldova, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh and mostly working in the agriculture or construction sectors. Now with the ongoing escalation of war in Iraq and Syria more and more children are coming from these regions.  Child refugees and trafficking victims are subjected to forced begging and forced to engage in petty crimes.   The medical center of Panagia Philanthropini, which belongs to the monastery of Ormylia in northern Greece, provides medical care to refugee and trafficked children.  Having often walked thousands of miles and traveled in terrible conditions without basic hygiene and medical care, children are in need of basic medical attention.  The center in Ormylia provides systemic medical examinations: ears, eyes, mouth and throat, a basic dental examination, assessment for childhood cardiac diseases and disorders, developmental disorders and diseases such as scoliosis, infectious disease exposure such as Tuberculosis, assessment for malnutrition and other important public health risk factors.  Children are cared for by qualified, experienced and dedicated pediatricians, nursing and social staff.  Those in need of radiological imaging, EKG’s etc are tested at the center.  Children in need of further diagnostic assessment and treatment are referred systematically to the needed treatment centers with which the center works and has agreements for care given that these children are uninsured.  The experience thus far in the medical care of these groups is that more than 55% of the children examined require further diagnostic assessment and treatment.    Together with the medical care provided the center will also engage in health education activities for the children giving them kits of hygiene needs as well as providing other basic needs such as clothing and food.    Once children’s health is attended to and cared for, together with other organizations, the Ormylia center seeks to help children begin to go to school so as to establish a normal and productive life.    Links: http://www.ormyliafoundation.gr/en/filanthropini.php http://thessaloniki.usconsulate.gov/children-health.html http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/CGWH/Pages/Health-Promotion-for-Women-and-Girls-in-Chalkidiki,-Greece.aspx

Rewards

A beautiful card photograph of the monastery of Ormylia.

A CD of the sisters of the monastery chanting.

A book about the monastery of Ormylia.

Organizer

No updates for this campaign just yet

Followers

0 followers
No Followers Just Yet...
US$0.00
Donated So Far

Help this ongoing fundraising campaign by making a donation and spreading the word.

Not Ready to Donate?

Did you know a 10 second Facebook share raises an average of $25?

Share on Facebook