Page 60 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - MARTIOS 2023

MARITIME
INDUSTRY
BENEVOLENCE
Edited by:
Panagiotis Korakas
SYN-ENOSIS: A DONATION THAT
FURTHER STRENGTHENS THE NATIONAL
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
The Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS), through
its Social Welfare Company, SYN-ENOSIS,
consistently contributes towards Greek soci-
ety. In recent years, it has donated more than
80,000,000 euros for the implementation of
actions and projects in the fields of health, edu-
cation, welfare, crisis management and the sup-
port of vulnerable groups.
Continuing its support of the health sector, the
UGS strengthens and improves the quality of
public health services provided to Greek citizens
with targeted, wide-ranging actions.
During the Covid-19 outbreak, the UGS immedi-
ately responded to the hospitals’ need for med-
ical equipment. In addition, it replaced the linen
in all the country’s hospitals and the Emergency
Aid Centre’s (EAC’s) linen and renovated the san-
itary facilities in Attica’s central hospitals.
Following the recent donation of 20 modern and
fully equipped ambulances to the Emergency Aid
Centre (EAC) and 2 ambulances to the Hellenic
Police, SYN-ENOSIS donated 6 new ambulances
with upgraded features, which will immediately
boost the numbers of the National Health Sys-
tem’s existing fleet as of early February 2023.
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During the handover ceremony of the ambu- We felt that we should strengthen our islands Sponsored by
lances, Ms Melina Travlos, president of the UGS,
and support insularity, especially in these times.
stated: “Healthcare is the highest social good.
I am an islander; I hail from the Cyclades and
This project, which directly enhances the coun-
know their problems very well. The donation of
of utmost importance for all citizens and visitors lent cooperation with the Health Center of Ios,
try’s emergency services provided by the EAC, is
an ambulance to Ios was the result of our excel-
of our country. A thank you from the heart to an island whose population increases twenty-
those on the front line who face human pain and
fold in the summer months. At the same time,
worry about our health and lives.
the decisive input of the Commander of the
Shipowners, collectively, through SYN-ENOSIS, & Aegean, Christos Roilos, who pointed out
I am filled with pride that as the Union of Greek
2nd Regional Health Administration of Piraeus
and individually, as members of the Greek ship-
the urgent need for an ambulance in Southern
Rhodes, makes us feel that this donation is of
owning community, we have contributed deci-
sively to the EAC’s operations. As Greek citizens,
great value. We are sure that our actions will
we consider it our duty to stand by the doctors,
nurses, and paramedics who serve the National make a difference in a holistic way. I hope your
work will continue the foundations already laid.
Healthcare System. The new ambulances will A big thank you from the heart for giving us the
facilitate their difficult work of providing imme- opportunity to help our islands through these
diate medical assistance to every person who small actions,” he concluded.
needs it in every region of our country. We have In total, the Eugenides Foundation’s donations
been and will always be next to the public exceed 1,000,000 euros, of which 594,980.65
healthcare system with actions, not words.” euros were given exclusively towards healthcare.
The event was attended by the Minister of
THE EUGENIDES FOUNDATION’S Health, Mr Thanos Plevris; the Deputy Minister
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS of Health, Ms Mina Gaga; Cyclades MPs Giannis
OF THE COUNTRY’S INSULAR REGIONS Vroutsis and Filippos Fortomas; the Mayor of Ios,
The Eugenides Foundation recently donated two Mr Gikas; the Mayor of Rhodes, Mr Kambourakis,
ambulances to the 2nd Regional Health Admin- and the local government representatives.
istration of Piraeus & Aegean to facilitate trans-
fers to the Health Center of Ios and the Health
Center in Gennadi, Rhodes.
At the delivery and acceptance ceremony, which
took place on 13 January 2023, the president
of the Eugenides Foundation, Leonidas Dimitri-
adis-Eugenides, stated:
“We feel it is our duty towards Greek society to
make this donation. Although the Eugenides
Foundation’s primary purpose is to support tech-
nical, scientific, and professional education, the
Foundation has always been present when there
were serious challenges and crises in our coun-
try. Let us not forget the substantial donation
of Eugene Eugenides after the earthquake in
Zakynthos or the donation of 3,000,000 dollars
by Nikolaos Vernikos-Eugenides after the 1999
earthquake in Attica. During the pandemic out-
break, we donated more than 1.5 million euros
for the implementation of direct and indirect
actions. In addition, we strengthened educa-
tion and digital learning by donating tablets to
schools and supporting the Merchant Shipping
Academies’ distance-learning programme to
ensure their smooth operation. But we did not
stop there. We also considered it our duty to
support public healthcare through a program of
targeted donations to the Sotiria, Attikon and
Children’s hospitals.
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