The honorary president of the Supervisory Board and the president of the Executive-Administrative Board of the International Organization German Doctors e.V., Elisabeth Kauder, and Christine Winkelmann, respectively, were informed in person about the progress of the programs implemented in Thessaloniki.
Additionally, the German Consul in Thessaloniki, Monica Frank, participated in the meeting to learn about the work being carried out.
The German Doctors organization supports and funds an "Advocacy" program for unaccompanied minor refugees in Greece, as well as a primary health care and dental care program for socially vulnerable groups, implemented in Thessaloniki by ARSIS - Social Organization for Youth Support, in collaboration with the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
The two representatives from German Doctors visited ARSIS’ Advocacy Program office (Monastiriou 12) to learn about the actions being implemented and the developments in the field of defending the rights of unaccompanied children in Greece.
Notably, in the past six months (from April 2024 to mid-October), 27 cases of unaccompanied children have been referred to ARSIS for legal representation.
During the informational meeting, ARSIS’ Child Protection Lawyer Kostas Kyrmanidis emphatically highlighted the legal gap in our country regarding the residency status of unaccompanied children when their application for international protection is rejected. He also outlined the actions taken by the ARSIS Advocacy team to secure—through appeals to the Administrative Courts—the legal residency of these children until they reach adulthood.
Additionally, ARSIS's publications were presented, which include a collection of court decisions on international protection, as well as the training seminars and events organized each year on legal and non-legal issues related to child protection in Greece.
Social Medical and Dental Clinic
German Doctors’ representatives Elisabeth Kauder and Christine Winkelmann also visited the Social Medical and Dental Clinic operated by ARSIS in collaboration with the Municipality of Thessaloniki, located in the Vardaris area (Paparrigopoulou 7).
They were accompanied by German Consul Monika Frank, briefed by the project coordinator, Annie Michailidou, on how the facilities support socially vulnerable populations. Notably, the German Consul spoke with an unaccompanied minor refugee, asking to learn basic details of his story and his plans for the future.
The project team, consisting of a Greek general practitioner and volunteer doctors from various specialties from Germany, provides primary health care services to refugees and migrants and the general population living on the poverty line (including the homeless, ex-offenders, and people supported by social services). The Social Clinic has conducted 3,451 medical examinations in the past six months.
The Social Dental Clinic also serves the refugee population and other socially vulnerable groups, where 952 dental procedures were performed in the past six months (including fillings, teeth cleanings, root canals, and fluoride treatments for children).
• • The Medical Clinic (Paparrigopoulou 7) accepts appointments via email at medical.arsis@gmail.com, while appointments for the dental clinic can be made at dental.arsis@gmail.com. Contact phone number: 2310 523 166.
For more information:
• Kostas Kyrmanidis, lawyer for the Advocacy Program for unaccompanied minors, phone: 6944207898
• Annie Michailidou, coordinator of the German Doctors health program, phone: 2310 523 166.
