Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on the occasion of the Panhellenic Burn Prevention Day, had a meeting at the Maximos Palace with burn victims Viktoria Antonova and Adriana Gioka and with the co-founders of the Hellenic Burn and Burn Victims Organization “Salvia”, Alexandros Andronopoulos and Marina Karyda.

During the meeting, the initiatives implemented by the government to support burns were discussed, such as the creation of a National Burn Registry for all victims and the coverage of preparations, materials and physical therapies by EOPYY. At the same time, the strengthening of prevention and the upgrading of the infrastructure of the National Health System specializing in burns were examined.

The Prime Minister focused on the possibility of horizontally integrating educational activities into school activities in collaboration with the Fire Brigade, which is already active in this field, so that children are taught from an early age appropriate reactions in case of fire and correct behaviors to avoid accidents, given that nearly half of burns occur as part of everyday activities around the home and many are preventable.

“I think if you generate interest, like you generated in me, there will be interest. Because anyone can see it happening to them. Once he can imagine that it could happen to himself, his child or his parent, I think he will see it differently,” said Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The possibility of upgrading the logistical equipment and layout of Intensive Care Units was also noted in order to ensure the best possible burn care, the specialization of doctors and nurses in the treatment of burns, and the special training of physiotherapists and occupational therapists in the recovery techniques required after hospitalization.

Mitsotakis burns

Kyriakos Mitsotakis pointed out that the proposals made will be used by the committee of experts that has been set up for the preparation of the National Action Plan for Combating Burns in the Country, which is in progress.

Victoria, who was injured in a house fire after smoke made it difficult to find escape routes, and Adriella, who suffered burns when she used alcohol to rekindle a fire to keep warm, were given the opportunity to share their experiences with the Prime Minister.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis thanked the two girls for their courage and their will to help inform and raise awareness in society, despite the challenges they have faced. “You can always close in on your problem and fall into a prolonged depression, but what you do is through your own difficulty help other people. This is not obvious, don’t take it for granted,” he stressed.

The Prime Minister also congratulated the co-founders of “Salvia” for their offer. “You give visibility to a problem that if we don’t highlight it in some way few will realize how much we need to know some basic things about what we need to do, of course we as a state,” he said.