40
7. Health
■
During summer 2010, doctors working for the 4th
Health District of Evros, along with the Hellenic
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP), provided medical treatment in the Evros region. There was
one doctor and a nurse covering both Fylakio and Feres
and a psychologist who was responsible for the four detention centres in Evros, as well as for Venna. Owing to funding
shortfalls, even these two doctors and the nurse did not
continue working after 2010.
From November 2010 until April 2011, the HCDPC run a
program aimed at safeguarding public health and at providing medical and psychological support to irregular
migrants detained in the Evros region. There was a team of
six (doctors, social workers, psychologists and interpreters)
and two mobile units working in the region.
In the same period, Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) were
running a program in the region, covering both Soufli and
Tychero detention centres, providing emergency support
and medical care to help detainees.
From March until July, the Ministry of Health and Social
Solidarity, funded by ERF-emergency funds, implemented
a project in the region of Evros providing detainees with
medical and psychological support.124 This project was
coordinated by HCDCP, planning medical examination
and assessment of all migrants, psychological screening,
psycho-social and medical support upon request and
disease surveillance. 3 doctors, 4 nurses, 2 psychologists,
one social worker, drivers, technical medical staff and about
five interpreters were hired for a three months period and
worked in Fylakio, Feres, Tychero, Venna, Soufli and Poros.
Almost at the same time, spanning from May 2011 to the
end of July of the same year, the Ministry of Citizen Protection ran a program that was financed by the Emergency
Measures of the European Refugee Fund (ERF), which provided for interpreters, social workers and psychologists.
The mobile units stayed 1-2 weeks in each detention centre
of Evros and Rhodopi. The program was also carried out in
Athens.
In the beginning of August 2011, MSF were asked to fill the
gap in healthcare provision, waiting for the renewal of the
Ministry of Health’s new program. Upon return to Evros,
MSF stated that concerning the detention conditions, there
have been no improvements since their last mission, other
than the decrease of the number of people detained in the
region, demanding for a more effective healthcare provision in the region.
The Ministry re-started their program on September 29 of
the same year. It will end in February 2012. They employed
one doctor at each detention centre except Soufli and
Feres (which have to share one), one psychologist (only for
Soufli, Feres and Tychero), one interpreter at each detention centre (meaning only one language is covered), one
social worker for Fylakio and one for Venna, as well as three
nurses: one for Fylakio, one for Tychero and one for Soufli
and Feres.125 As can be easily derived from the above facts,
there has been a constant lack of medical staff.
Womens’ bathroom
in Ferres often lacks
warm water
Toilettes in detention
are usually not working
or/ and very dirty
124 EU project: ›Implementation of healthcare and psychosocial
support activities for third country nationals that may require
international protection in the area of Evros, Greece‹.
125 http://www.keelpno.gr/images/stories/keelpno/Theseis_
Ergasias/programa2010_prosklisi.pdf
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