On Friday, 14 February 2025, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Giannis Kefalogiannis signed the renewal of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of National Defence and the Friends of Social Paediatrics and Medicine “Open Arms Hug” Association, with the Board of Members President Ms. Lefki Yolanda Vlahou.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Chief/HNDGS, General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief/HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief HNGS, Vice Admiral Dimitrios–Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Chief HAFGS Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Directors of HNDGS, HAGS, HNGS, and HAFGS Medical Directorates, as well as the Association’s Board of Members.

Mr. Kefalogiannis thanked the “Open Arms Hug” Association for the renewal of the crucial memorandum and the effective cooperation in order to provide medical services and raise the standard of living of the country’s border region inhabitants.

Meanwhile, he stressed the contribution of the Armed Forces to the benefit of Greek citizens, even at the most remote areas of our country, with two military doctors, a Cardiologist and an Ophthalmologist, assigned to provide preventive healthcare to villages in the prefecture of Xanthi, assigning Army vehicles to transport healthcare workers of the “Open Arms Hug” Association to and from the Rhodes, Chios, Limnos, Samos, and Kos airports, and assigning Hellenic Navy ships to transport them to our country’s smaller islands, such as Chalki, Symi, Agios Eustratios, Psara, Fourni, and Lipsi.

In his address, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated, among others:

“It is a great pleasure and honour to be with you today, for the renewal of the memorandum with the Friends of Social Paediatrics and Medicine “Open Arms Hug” Association. This gesture demonstrates the actual support of the Ministry of National Defence towards the inhabitants of Greece’s border regions, their presence in these regions doubtless contributing to the consolidation of our sovereignty. Providing healthcare is a necessary requirement for maintaining the living standard so that the inhabitants’ presence in these areas continues. Through this cooperation of ours we make yet another step in the effort of the Ministry of National Defence, by means of partnerships and contributions of materiel and human resources to help Greek citizens, even in the most remote areas of our Country.

I would like to indicatively mention the two military doctors, a Cardiologist and an Ophthalmologist assigned to provide preventive healthcare to villages in the prefecture of Xanthi, assigning Army vehicles to transport medical workers of the “Open Arms Hug” Association to and from the Rhodes, Chios, Limnos, Samos, and Kos airports, and assigning Hellenic Navy ships to transport them to smaller islands of our country, such as Chalki, Symi, Agios Eustratios, Psara, Fourni, and Lipsi. I also emphasise that actions of this kind are in total alignment with the constitutionally protected principle of insularity. Taking into consideration the actions completed from the point of view of our cooperation with “Open Arms Hug”, we consider it an honour to have contributed to the renewal of a memorandum of such crucial importance, through which we seal our already good cooperation with the excellent scientists who offer their services to society.

Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff,

I would like to congratulate and thank the Armed Forces yet again, who, in addition to the operational readiness they maintain, demonstrate empathy, since they assigned medical personnel, vehicles, and ships in order to implement said memorandum, and by extension, the deeply humanitarian purpose it serves.

Madam President of the Friends of Social Paediatrics and Medicine “Open Arms Hug” Association,

I would like to congratulate you on the important task you are performing. Your contribution is particularly important and is an example to follow. I am absolutely sure that the contribution of the signatory parties is and will remain the best possible. I expect the renewal of our cooperation to be the starting point for other entities to undertake similar actions.”