Την εμπειρία του από την εργασία του στις δομές φιλοξενίας προσφύγων στην Ελλάδα καταθέτει ο γιατρός Γενικής Ιατρικής Γιούλιαν Μπίγκελ, εθελοντής της Διεθνούς Μη Κυβερνητικής Οργάνωσης German Doctors e.V. (https://www.german-doctors.de/), η οποία φέτος συμπληρώνει τέσσερα χρόνια συνεργασίας με την ΑΡΣΙΣ – Κοινωνική Οργάνωση Υποστήριξης Νέων.
“It was a challenge trying to meet the needs of the patients I treated. Newborns and elderly, women and men with different cultural or religious background, with whom we had to communicate either in different languages, or simply with gestures.”
Julian Biggel recounts: “I met unaccompanied children waiting years for an asylum decision, single mothers with their newborns and physically and psychologically traumatised children living with others in a small container. I also encountered the consequences of non-existent medical care in their countries. Helping to improve their situation was only possible thanks to the passionate commitment to practical solidarity of Greek social workers, psychologists, nurses, doctors, translators and German doctors.”
German Doctors’ volunteers come to Greece and rotate every six weeks. Together with the Greek General Practitioner and an interpreter, they visit shelters of unaccompanied minors, refugee camps and social services of other programmes, providing basic primary health care services.
The project team visits the refugee shelters in Vagiochori in Thessaloniki, Nea Kavala in Kilkis, as well as Katsikas and Filippiada in Epirus.
From the start of the program in October 2020 until the beginning of 2024, more than 11,000 refugees and asylum seekers were examined and 20,000 medical visits were carried out.
Julian Biggel participated in the program of visits and describes that he experienced first-hand the impact of the current European refugee policy: “Neither closing eyes nor closing borders can change the lives of refugees for the better. Climate change, armed conflicts and significant economic and social inequalities are just some of the challenges we have to face.”
The primary health care service provision program of ARSIS in Thessaloniki will last until April 2025. Primary health and dental care services are provided to both refugees and migrants and to the general population living on the edge of poverty, with low to non-existent annual income, homeless and other vulnerable population groups.
The primary health care services program of ARSIS in Thessaloniki is implemented with the funding of the International Non-Governmental Organization German Doctors e.V. and the support of the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
The Community Health and Dental Clinic is located on the street Paparrigopoulou 7, 3rd floor, in Vardaris. Appointments at the doctor’s office are specified by email at medical.arsis@gmail.com and for the dental office at dental.arsis@gmail.com, as well as on the phone number 2310 523 166.th όροφος, στο Βαρδάρη. Τα ραντεβού στο ιατρείο καθορίζονται με μήνυμα στο medical.arsis@gmail.com και για το οδοντιατρείο στο dental.arsis@gmail.com, καθώς επίσης και στο τηλέφωνο 2310 523 166.
PRESS RELEASE– The provision of health care in Refugee shelters through the eyes of a volunteer German doctor
General Practitioner Julian Biggel, a volunteer of the International Non-Governmental Organization German Doctors e.V., which this year completes four years of cooperation with ARSIS – Social Organization for Youth Support, presents his experience from his work in refugee shelters in Greece.
“It was a challenge trying to meet the needs of the patients I treated. Newborns and elderly, women and men with different cultural or religious backgrounds, with whom we had to communicate either in different languages or simply with gestures.”
Julian Biggel recounts: “I met unaccompanied children waiting years for an asylum decision, single mothers with their newborns, and physically and psychologically traumatized children living with others in a small container. I also encountered the consequences of non-existent medical care in their countries. Helping to improve their situation was only possible thanks to the passionate commitment to practical solidarity of Greek social workers, psychologists, nurses, doctors, translators and German doctors.”
German Doctors’ volunteers come to Greece and rotate every six weeks. Together with the Greek General Practitioner and an interpreter, they visit shelters for unaccompanied minors, refugee camps, and social services of other programs, providing basic primary health care services.
The project team visits the refugee shelters in Vagiochori in Thessaloniki, Nea Kavala in Kilkis, as well as Katsikas and Filippiada in Epirus.
From the start of the program in October 2020 until the beginning of 2024, more than 11,000 refugees and asylum seekers were examined and 20,000 medical visits were carried out.
Julian Biggel participated in the program of visits and describes that he experienced first-hand the impact of the current European refugee policy: “Neither closing eyes nor closing borders can change the lives of refugees for the better. Climate change, armed conflicts, and significant economic and social inequalities are just some of the challenges we have to face.”
The primary health care service provision program of ARSIS in Thessaloniki will last until April 2025. Primary health and dental care services are provided to both refugees and migrants and the general population living on the edge of poverty, with low to non-existent annual income, homeless, and other vulnerable population groups.
The primary health care services program of ARSIS in Thessaloniki is implemented with the funding of the International Non-Governmental Organization German Doctors e.V. and the support of the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
The Community Health and Dental Clinic is located on the street Paparrigopoulou 7, 3rd floor, in Vardaris. Appointments at the doctor’s office are specified by email at medical.arsis@gmail.com and for the dental office at dental.arsis@gmail.com, as well as on the phone number 2310 523 166.
For more information:
Annie Michailidou, project coordinator of primary health care of ARSIS, phone number: 2310 523 166.
Kostas Kekeliadis, ARSIS Press Office Manager, phone number: 6986439848.