At the beginning of the new year we decided to look back to the torrid summer months and to the hectic succession of news running through the thin stretch of sea separating us from Greece.
We found us recalling those July days when the little peninsula in the Aegean Sea and its citizens returned to be, as thousands of years ago, the epicenter of Europe, opening a deep international debate about the EU's meaning and role, claiming the dignity and the freedom of an entire country.
A few months after the signing of the new memorandum, medias are not talking anymore about the Greek situation, but the complicated socio-economic conditions seem to be far from solved.
That's why we decided to interview Christos Seris, member of the Metropolitan Community Clinic of Helleniko, a few kilometers from Athens, to try to understand better the current Greek state, especially with regard to the Right to Health.
We found us recalling those July days when the little peninsula in the Aegean Sea and its citizens returned to be, as thousands of years ago, the epicenter of Europe, opening a deep international debate about the EU's meaning and role, claiming the dignity and the freedom of an entire country.
A few months after the signing of the new memorandum, medias are not talking anymore about the Greek situation, but the complicated socio-economic conditions seem to be far from solved.
That's why we decided to interview Christos Seris, member of the Metropolitan Community Clinic of Helleniko, a few kilometers from Athens, to try to understand better the current Greek state, especially with regard to the Right to Health.
- Let's start from the beginning, would you like to explain what is it the MKIE, what is it about, how it was born and on which principles it is based?
Our volunteers now number more than 280 and include a growing number of doctors, dentists, pharmacists, therapists and support staff. We are treating an ever growing number of patients, at times more than 100 per day. Moreover, MCCH provides psychological support to the unemployed, as well as baby food and other basic baby needs, all free of charge. All medicine and various items are donations from fellow citizens with the urge to stand by those in need during the economic crisis that we are all going through.
MCCH was built and runs on three core principles:
1) We do not accept monetary donations from anyone.
2) We do not allow any political party to be involved in clinic operation or activities.
3) We do not promote anyone or allow anyone to promote themselves for any donation made.
2) We do not allow any political party to be involved in clinic operation or activities.
3) We do not promote anyone or allow anyone to promote themselves for any donation made.
The clinic is not funded by anyone (other than its operating expenses being covered by the Helliniko – Argyroypoli municipality). Volunteers and friends of the clinic organize an annual bazaar which covers some of our needs. Additionally, we gladly accept gifts of medication or goods or volunteer labor. This ensures our autonomy and independence. We value transparency at every level. All major non-medical decisions are taken collectively in a general assembly of the volunteers.
- May you explain how did it come out the necessity of founding and carry on daily a structure like the MKIE?
- Do other structures similar to yours exist all around Greece?
- How many people addressed to the MKIE and took benefit by its services during these years?
- Would you like to explain the social and economic general conditions that Greek people is passing through actually?
- And what abouth the condition of the Right to Health?
- Reminding of what happened in Greece last summer, in June and July, reminding of the referendum and the following events, do you feel like a chance to start a change in Greece and in the whole UE has been wasted? And how did the scenario in Greece change after the signature of the memorandum?
- How do you feel about the future in Greece? Do you think there is hope for the European countries living now a critical phase?