On Monday, 27 June 2011, a fully renovated, thanks to a donation by the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, Paediatric Clinic was handed over to the management of the ‘G. Gennimatas’ General Hospital of Thessaloniki. The Paediatric Clinic was inaguarated by the Minister of Health and Social Solidarity, Mr Andreas Loverdos and Ms Marianna Latsis, on behalf of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation. Following the inauguration ceremony, they were both given a tour of the Paediatric Clinic facilities.

The Paediatric Clinic, which has a 38-bed capacity, receives patients from Macedonia, Thrace and Thessaly, treating the entire spectrum of illnesses. An average of over 1,200 children – up to the age of 16 – per year are hospitalised at the clinic. Approximately 9,000 children per year visit its emergency room and outpatient clinic. The Paediatric Clinic, overseen by Dr Stavroula Karyda, is staffed by 8 doctors and 16 nurses.

The renovation works in respect of the Paediatric Clinic were implemented through the joint coordinated effort of the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, the hospital management and the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation. Prior to renovation, the clinic’s infrastructure had been extremely degraded – especially in relation to the medical services that the clinic is expected to provide. Using flexible cooperation methods, the drastic reconfiguration of the clinic’s approximate 500 square metres was completed in less than three months. The renovation was based on a special design by a team of architects, psychologists and educators, headed by architect Ms Emily Kamarinopoulou. Prepared in the course of 2009, the design was funded by the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.

In his brief address, Minster Andreas Loverdos underlined that:

''Although the health system faces a great deal of significant problems, there are also many good moments, such as today’s handover of the renovated Paediatric Clinic to the ‘G. Gennimatas’ General Hospital in Thessaloniki.''

''The future belongs to children, and we owe them the best medical care possible”, Ms Marianna Latsis stressed in her speech, adding that:

 “These are times of accountability and duty towards our country, whatever position each of us find ourselves in. The fruitful collaboration between the Greek State and public benefit foundations could lead to a new paradigm, which is very much needed in the current circumstances”.

The Director of the Hospital, Dr Konstantinos Tsitouridis gave a brief overview of the main objectives of the Hospital’s management, namely the rationalisation of its operation in financial terms and a consistent upgrading of the quality of the medical services provided, a goal already achieved to a great extent by means of the completion of the donation in question.

Speeches were also given by Yiannis Boutaris, Mayor of Thessaloniki, and Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Deputy Regional Governor of Thessaloniki.

The blessing ceremony for the renovated Paediatric Clinic was conducted by His Eminence Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki.

Present at the event were Deputy Minister of Health and Social Solidarity, Mr Markos Bolaris, MPs Ms Elena Rapti and Mr Giorgos Fraggidis, the Directors of other hospitals of Thessaloniki, as well as the Hospital’s staff members.