Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the former “Karatassiou” camp, where the new anti-cancer hospital of Thessaloniki will be built and is part of a network of actions for the radical upgrade of infrastructure and the quality of life in the Western part of the city.

“Our responsibility – and that is why I am here today, emphasizing the Municipalities of Western Thessaloniki – is to support the region which has not always received the necessary attention from the state. And in good cooperation with the local government, with the Regional Governor and with the Mayors to prepare a very ambitious program of important interventions at many levels.

From the new cancer hospital that will be built in the “Karatassiou” camp, to the utilization of the “Ziaka” camp to be able to do an additional development with social housing there to give mainly cheap housing, especially to the new children of this area.

I remind you that it is the fastest growing population region of the entire country. The new schools that are being built, the “Pavlou Mela” camp, we have visited many times together, which is starting and taking on a new life again.

Major interventions in the infrastructure with the most important of all the final extension of the Metro to the north-west of Thessaloniki, a project that will take years to implement, but someone must start it because until now it has been clearly neglected.
So all this, and much more, indicate my personal interest, as well as that of our government, for those areas that have every reason to feel wronged.

Decades of failure are not fixed overnight. What I can guarantee you, is that we will always continue with the same energy, the same determination, to strive for the best and to aim, as you always do and as he has an obligation to do first and foremost our Church, to turn our gaze to the most oppressed, those who are most in need. And indeed, now, as Holy Week begins, in a difficult moment for the whole country, for which the national tragedy of Tempe, I am absolutely sure that especially at this moment, this year Holy Easter will have its own special healing role for all Greek women, for all Greeks and for all Christian believers.

Thank you again for your warm welcome. Thank you for the great work that you are doing, as you have identified with this area and always claim in a way that resembles, I would say, your dynamism.

The best for your Metropolis and for all those you serve”, emphasized the Prime Minister during the meeting he then had with the Metropolitan of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, Mr. Varnavas, who presented him with a copy of “Hernivoxestus” of the “washbasin” container they brought with them the Asia Minors who settled in the area.

“We give this to mark your memory and remembrance, your presence and to publicly say thank you. For what we dream of, you also entered alongside our dreams, co-educator and fellow traveler on the same road.

So on behalf of the local church, the elders, the people of God, keep this to remember that you must minister to the people with humility and love, you must wipe their sweat because here these “everyday Olympians” with the holy water , their sweat water the place and be a servant and minister.

I want to thank you again. A chronic problem, that of the organic positions of our clergy, ended in the best way and you know it is a memorial service, it is a blessing, it is love. Welcome, Mr. President, to your home,” noted Mr. Varnavas.

Thessaloniki is getting a new, state-of-the-art cancer hospital

Earlier, the Prime Minister, visiting the former “Karatassiou” camp, was informed about the plan to build the new anti-cancer hospital of Thessaloniki at the site and to relocate the services that are currently housed in the old “Theageniou” building.

“I remember when he first raised the issue of “Theageniou” and the need for Thessaloniki to acquire a new cancer hospital, state-of-the-art, which will be the best hospital in Greece, I dare say also in the Balkans as we are planning it, this discussion began about where it should be done and I don’t think I had to be particularly convinced about the need for it to come here in this space.

The synergies, as the Regional Governor said, with the existing hospitals are more than obvious and because the area is very large, we are currently reserving 150 acres for the creation of the new Theageneio Cancer Hospital, but there will always be the possibility to think and other potential uses.

And one understands the very great prospects that this whole area acquires to turn into something that basically does not exist in the country: Such an integrated health park does not exist either in Athens or anywhere else.

My own commitment is now, once the issues related to the management of the space are completed, to proceed very quickly, to naturally think about the possibility of how we can make use of the existing space, because one of the great beauties of these of the project is that by moving structures located in the center of the city, you free up valuable real estate that can possibly be exploited in a commercial way and partly finance the effort we are making. So I am happy about the progress that has been achieved”, the Prime Minister emphasized.

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The new, “green” hospital complex will be the most modern of its kind in the Balkans and will be located at a very short distance from “Papageorgiou” and 424 GSN, thus cultivating synergies in the health sector and decongesting the center of the city, where “Theagenio” is located.

According to the plan, the new health structure will occupy an area of ​​approximately 150 acres and, in addition to the pathological, surgical and diagnostic units, will include infrastructure for the psychological support of patients, their rehabilitation, the provision of palliative care in incurable cases and the accommodation of attendants. It is expected to have around 400 beds, with expanded intensive care and advanced care units.

The economic and technical study for the project, which will be implemented through PPP, is in progress. In this context, the options for the best possible use of the existing structures of the “Theagenium” are also examined.

Lungs of green and affordable housing for Western Thessaloniki

At the beginning of his visit to Western Thessaloniki, Kyriakos Mitsotakis toured the 3,000-acre hillock, where a peri-urban recreation forest will be planted in the Municipality of Pavlos Melas, thanks to a donation from businessman Stavros Andreadis.

In conjunction with the metropolitan park under construction at the former “Pavlou Mela” camp, where work is ongoing, Western Thessaloniki will acquire two large “lungs” of greenery, which will simultaneously offer sports venues and centers of culture.

The Prime Minister was informed about the progress of the plan, which foresees the planting of 300,000 trees through the institution of the reforestation contractor. The donation will also cover the construction and opening of paths-routes for pedestrians and cyclists, rest areas, a forest museum and infrastructure for watering the plants.

Another intervention for Western Thessaloniki will be implemented in the former “Ziaka” camp, where the construction of modern houses is planned through the newly created institution of Social Compensation, which is part of the government’s broader strategy for the issue of housing.

The housing complex will include extensive green spaces and energy-efficient houses, part of which will be available at very low rent to young people, young couples and socially sensitive groups, such as families with three and many children.

With the “Panic Button” the woman who is threatened will have immediate support from the state

Kyriakos Mitsotakis also visited the Counseling Center – Shelter for Women Victims of Violence and their Children, where he had the opportunity to talk with the specialized staff responsible for receiving and supporting victims of domestic or gender-based violence who are seeking protection.

“This release, especially for women who have difficulty talking about these issues, who very often keep the pain inside, who have suffered violence of all kinds and sometimes just dare to come here and speak for the first time it is a very important first step. And I imagine you also feel great satisfaction when some circles are closed, don’t you? “Women manage to make the choices they themselves decide they need to make and can move forward with their lives away from such environments,” noted the Prime Minister.

During the visit, the importance of the new “Panic Button” application was highlighted, which has already been piloted in Athens and Thessaloniki through the domestic violence offices of the Hellenic Police and the Advisory Centers of the General Secretariat of Demographic and Family Policy and Equality of the Sexes. The app enables women at risk to silently call for help with the push of a button on their mobile phone, alerting the Police for immediate intervention.

“What we want to avoid is the perpetuation of abusive behavior. And that every woman who is in an environment that may feel threatened in any way should feel that she can quickly contact the Police and the rest of the State Services, so that she has immediate support, that is, she should feel as as safe as possible”, pointed out Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The ‘Panic Button’ is part of the wider framework of initiatives to prevent and combat violence against women. This includes a wide network of support structures, consisting of 44 Counseling Centers and 19 Hospitality Hostels, the specialized offices of the Police and the 24/7 SOS 15900 telephone line.

At noon, the Prime Minister visited the historic and now renovated Stoa Modiano, where he had the opportunity to chat with shopkeepers and passers-by.

As part of his presence in Thessaloniki, Kyriakos Mitsotakis also visited the Cultural Center of the Lazarist Monastery, where a new Museum is housed, which houses exhibits of refugees from the East (Pontos, Cappadocia, Ionia). The Prime Minister was given a tour by the Metropolitan of Neapolis and Stavroupolis Mr. Varnavas.