On Wednesday, May 28, the Association of Employees in the Production, Cultivation, Standardization, and Packaging of Food and Beverages of Western Achaia – Andravida – Kyllini, along with a delegation of volunteer doctors who have been established and contribute to the major solidarity initiative towards migrant farm workers in the wider area, held an intervention at the Administration of the 6th Health Region in Patras, demanding immediate measures for their hygiene and safety, as well as that of the entire population.
In their protest letter, signed by the volunteer doctors and submitted to the Administration of the Health Region, with a copy sent to the Ministers of Health and Migration and Asylum, regarding the prevailing health conditions, it states:
“We, the undersigned who now form the group of doctors of the Association of Employees in the Production, Cultivation, Standardization, and Packaging of Food and Beverages of Western Achaia – Andravida – Kyllini, with this letter inform you about the poor conditions in which thousands of migrant farm workers live, both from a health perspective and purely human aspect.
Responding, as we were obliged, to the call of the Union and the Workers’ Centers of Patras and Amaliada to offer help to the migrant farm workers in Nea Manolada after the recent fire in their camp, we went to the square of Nea Manolada where we voluntarily provided our medical services, discussing and examining hundreds of migrants.
During our presence there, we observed the immense needs of migrant workers for drinking water, food, clothing, and shelter. At the same time, we noticed the complete absence of the state and its services in addressing the significant medical care and treatment needs of this specific population. Specifically, we are talking about thousands of migrants facing serious problems due to living conditions, serious musculoskeletal and pathological issues, and at the same time, they have no access to health units in the area, nor to medical examinations and prescriptions.
Their life in makeshift camps without drinking water and often without toilets has created conditions of a health bomb both for themselves and for the permanent residents of the area. At the same time, it is known that Nea Manolada in Ilia and Lappas in Achaia are under quarantine, with residents being excluded even from voluntary blood donation.”
Demanding a series of measures Based on the above, the following measures are required from the 6th Health Region and the government: “Ensure the necessary living conditions that allow proper personal hygiene (clean water, toilets, housing, clothing, etc.). Ensure free access of all migrant workers to medical check-up, their free access to all health units in the area. With the responsibility of the 6th Health Region and the government, resolve the issue of non-issuance of AMKA (social security number) to thousands of migrants, and the reissuance of AMKA for those whose documents have been destroyed. Deploy a mobile health unit with the responsibility of the 6th Health Region which will undertake the preventive check of migrant workers. Conduct preventive blood tests and ensure access to specialists for those who need it, such as cardiologists, diabetologists, orthopedists. Ensure that they have free access to the prescription of their medicines and their procurement, as well as to special means needed to take them. For example, we examined a migrant with diabetes who had stopped taking insulin because he didn’t have a refrigerator to store it. With the responsibility of EODY (National Public Health Organization), using mobile units, vaccinate everyone with the necessary vaccines for their age, taking into account the specific health conditions they live in (tetanus, hepatitis, etc.). Take measures to prevent endemic diseases such as tuberculosis. Establish a fully equipped and staffed Regional Health Center for all residents of the area. Strengthen the area’s health structures with doctors and nurses to meet the needs of all residents, both Greek and migrants.
Furthermore, all the above are considered necessary and urgent measures, as you know from the regulations for those working in food production and packaging.
We demand that you immediately proceed with the implementation of the above measures and inform us of your immediate actions.”
The protest letter of the association is signed by the following doctors: Christos Davoulos, Pathology Consultant B’ PGNP, President of EINA, Municipal Councilor of Patras Municipality. Vasiliki Patrinou, Director of ESY Surgery GN Mesolongiou, Municipal Councilor of Mesolongiou Municipality, Eleni Lata, General Medicine Consultant B’ KY Kato Achaia, Treasurer of EINA, Martha Kolosaka, Pathologist, Athanasios Melas, Cardiology Trainee PGNP, member of EINA Board, Regional Councilor of Western Greece, Athanasios Papageorgiou, Cardiology Trainee PGNP, member of PGNP Employees Association Board, Stamos Dimitratou, General Medicine Trainee GN Patras, member of EINA three-member committee of GN Patras, Nikoleta Kolliou, Surgical Trainee GN Patras.
