The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Social Paediatrics and Medicine Association “Open Arms Hug”, Ms. Lefki-Yiolanda Vlachou, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of National Defence and the Association, in a ceremony held in “IOANNIS KAPODISTRIAS” Hall of the Ministry of National Defence, on Monday 3 October 2022.
The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, the Deputy Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Kellis, the Deputy Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff Rear Admiral Georgios Kabourakis, the Director of B Staff Directorate of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Major General Vasileios Papachristou, the Directors of Medical Corps Directions from the Hellenic National Defence General Staff AF Major General Dimitrios Chatzigeorgiou, from the Hellenic Army General Staff Major General Antonios Zouboulidis, from the Hellenic Navy General Staff Rear Admiral Antonios Papageorgiou and from the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Major General Panagiotis Kostopoulos. On behalf of the Association, it was also attended by the Deputy Chairperson Mr. Alexandros Morfis and the members of the Board of Directors Ms. Ourania Soulaki, Ms. Filippia Nikolaou and Christina Charatsari.
By the signed Memorandum, the two Parties renew their already effective cooperation which began in 2018, with a view to developing further strong and reliable procedures for the provision of medical services and for enhancing the living standard of residents in remote – unapproachable areas of Greece.
The Armed Forces, due to Greece’s particular geographic characteristics and due to the great number of islands, will contribute, by assigning teams of Military Doctors from the Military Hospitals and suitable assets, to preventing and dealing with residents’ health problems in remote-unapproachable areas.
The Memorandum of Cooperation, which enters into force as of today, upon its signature by both representatives of the parties, will be valid for a period of two years.
The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias, after signing the Memorandum, delivered the following address:
“The signing of this memorandum between the Ministry of National Defence and the Friends of Social Paediatrics and Medicine Association “Open Arms Hug” confirms our common will to continue our cooperation; a cooperation with a contribution to the community for the provision of medical services to people living in remote areas of our country.”
The volunteers of the “Open Arms Hug”, apart from offering a warm hug to children suffering from chronic diseases, contribute also to strengthening the physical and mental health of the population in remote areas of Greece, through a project of Preventive Medicine Campaigns entitled “We support life”.
The Armed Forces, in a cooperative effort, struggle for the collective benefit being actively present in every sector which is important to support social cohesion, reinforcing and consolidating further an already unbreakable relation of trust with the Greek people. Through the actions “Healthcare for All by the Armed Forces” and “Prometheus”, as well as through the assignment of soldier doctors in Regional Medical Offices of Greece, they contribute actively to the provision of primary healthcare in our remote areas and islands.
The Ministry of National Defence, in order to practically support the “Open Arms Hug” in its preventive medicine campaigns, taking also into account the particular geographic characteristics of the Greek territory, is willing, through this memorandum, to contribute to your effort to promote the physical and mental health of people living in remote areas of our homeland.”
