MdM Mobile Medical Units reach 2042 medical interventions on Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Greece in three months
Athens – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and partner Médecins du Monde (MdM) announced today that they have rapidly provided primary health care services to over 240 unaccompanied minors leaving in 4 different Hotels in Athens, Korinthos and Northern Greece via Mobile Medical Units and the presence of nurses in a three-months period. (from January to March 2018).
These medical interventions are part of the broader ERAcUMiC project, funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the European Union implemented by the close collaboration between IOM – The UN Migration Agency and the Greek delegation of MdM. This project corresponds to the opening of hotels in Athens, Korinthos and Northern Greece as an urgency response to the presence of Unaccompanied Child Migrants on the Greek islands. Doctors of the World provides three (3) medical mobile units including one driver and one doctor per unit and one nurse per site who offer Primary Health Care services in each hotel.
Over the 240 unaccompanied minors assisted MdM medical teams delivered 2,042 medical interventions covering 1036 consultations, 702 prescriptions and 304 referrals to other facilities for secondary care from January to March 2018.
Through ERAcUMiC project, all implementing partners are aiming at the immediate improvement in the daily living conditions for UMCs through the provision of more spacious and safe accommodation, while assuring the safeguarding of children with specialized staff on a 24/7 basis.
“Supporting the Greek authorities in responding to the vulnerability of unaccompanied migrant children in Greece, is one of IOM priorities. Through the provision of temporary dignified accommodation conditions in combination with responsible health services, we ensure their immediate access to the fundamental rights of health and shelter, while a more permanent solution is organized”, IOM’s Greece Chief of Mission, Gianluca Rocco said.
The medical teams conduct health consultation and provide primary health care services for medical issues such as viral infections, colds, skins problems, musculoskeletal health problems and injuries. They also prescribe medicine and follow persons with chronic illnesses (such as heart diseases, diabetes, respiratory problems).
“We are very satisfied of the collaboration with the International Organization for Migration and the European Commission,” said Christos Dimopoulos, Protection and Integration Projects Manager of Médecins du Monde in Greece.
“Through the project we are able to provide needed health care services to extremely vulnerable Unaccompanied Migrant Children and at the same time to refer the complicated cases to other MdM health services and to the National Health System” he added.
From April up to date, IOM and MdM are operating in a total of eight hotels in Athens, Korinthos and Northern Greece, in collaboration with the NGO’s “Arsis” and “Iliaktida”.
The joint IOM – MdM project is funded by the European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs.