Inauguration of Hospice for Nursing Assistance and Palliative Care “GALILEE”

A state-of-the-art hospice for terminal cancer patients was inaugurated at the “GALILEE” Palliative Care Unit of the Holy Metropolis of Mesogaia and Lavrion. This excellent facility will provide free high-quality services to patients and their families, with the assistance of 36 specialised doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and priests.

The Jon S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation has been among the supporters of this important project, securing resources for the construction of the facility.

Press release abstract.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017 will be remembered as a milestone in the history of the “GALILEE” Palliative Care Unit, but also for palliative care in Greece.

The inauguration of “GALILEE”, the first Hospice and Palliative Care institute in Greece was held in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Prokopis  Pavlopoulos, and His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Mr. Ieronimos.

“GALILEE” is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of 36 physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and priests who are primarily responsible for the care of patients with a life-threatening illness, mainly cancer and neuromuscular patients with motor neuron disease.

Under the auspices of the Holy Metropolis of Mesogaia and Lavrion, the hospice has been offering its free home and day care services to suffering fellow human beings in the southeast region of Attica for eight years, assisted by more than a hundred trained volunteers.

The hospice, which will start operating immediately after the holiday period, is complete with state-of-the-art equipment, thanks to the sponsorships of 23 public benefit foundations, organisations, businesses and individuals, including the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the Lilian Voudouris Foundation, the TIMA Charitable Foundation, Mr. Athanasios Martinos, the NORDBLOM FAMILY FOUNDATION, the INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF ATHENS, the NATIONAL BANK, CITIBANK, EUROBANK, KOREAN REGISTRY, AENORASIS, the MICHAEL CHONIATIS Public Benefit Foundation, Mr. Polys Haji-Ioannou, Mr. Charalambos Mylonas, Mr. Andreas Hatzigiannis, Mrs. Evangelia Choutopoulou, the Katrisianakis family, Mrs. Maria Mataraga and of course the Holy Metropolis of Mesogaia and Lavrion and more than 3,500 benefactors.

After the Benediction, delivered by His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece Mr. Ieronymos, the Archbishop gave a brief greeting speech, in which he emphasised that love is the basis of ministering to the suffering fellow human as an image of God until his final breath.

The Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavrion Mr. Nikolaos gave the outline of the development of the entire project, starting with the concept in 2005, the organisation of the first conferences and seminars, the shaping of the notion, knowledge and image of the project with frequent visits to hospices abroad, the opening of the “GALILEE” Palliative Care Unit in March 2010, the expansion of the programme and finally the construction of the modern institute. The project was based on four axes, necessity, capability, high quality and sustainability. Managing serious illnesses and death requires a spirit that gives light, joy and life, which is why the entire effort is based on young people with sparkle, energy and youthful enthusiasm.

The event continued with a brief but heartfelt presentation by the scientific supervisor of ''GALILEE'', Aliki Tserkezoglou, about the experience the ''GALILEE'' team has gained by having provided care to more than 700 patients to this day, and the importance of providing Palliative Care to patients who experience a life-threatening illness and to their carers.

Lastly, the President, His Beatitude the Archbishop, supporters and partners were given a tour of the ''GALILEE'' facilities, which was followed by a reception.