At the request of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Administration and the local humanitarian organization Adamiani, hellenicare’s Greek Medical Fund of Georgia was asked to provide health care services through its medical mobile unit to the residents of the St. George Mtatsmindeli Rehabilitation Center. The center began as a homeless shelter for street children after the Georgian Civil War ended in 1995. Over the years, it expanded its mission to include homeless elderly.
“This is a very poor village and the center receives little money to provide medical care and medicines,” says Alina Papanidi, Regional Coordinator of hellenicare. “When the administrator of the regional council heard about our medical mobile unit he asked us if we would visit the village. We thought it would be a perfect opportunity for our fellow Department of State (DOS) grantees to join us and sponsor a humanitarian outreach program.”
The small village of Dzegvi, Georgia is located in the historic old capital of the Republic of Georgia called Mtskheta, which dates back to the year 1000 B.C. and is home to the sixth century monastery of Jvari and an 11th century Orthodox Cathedral. Prior to the 19th Century, the Kings and Queens of Georgia were buried in Mstkheta. Dzegvi is one of several small villages perched along the banks of where the Aragvi and Kura rivers converge. The village is part of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region which has a population of approximately 20,000 people.
hellenicare’s medical mobile unit (MMU) consisting of a general physician, pediatrician and cardiologist, examined residents at St. George Rehabilitation Center and the Catharsis Nursing Home as well as local residents. As hellenicare’s MMU is equipped with a mini laboratory, portable ultrasound and EKG unit, diagnostic tests were also able to be performed in addition to physician examinations. Joining hellenicare was the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) who provided the children of the Rehabilitation Center with school kits, Counterpart International who distributed winter boots as well as LDS-Charities who supplemented medicines and medical supplies donated by hellenicare. The outreach was also televised on the three major news stations in Tbilisi as well as local news media in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region.
“This outreach effort is just one of the many ways hellenicare actualizes its mission to restore health and hope,” says Cynthia A. Yannias, Program Director. “Our cooperative working relationship with other DOS grantees and humanitarian organizations strengthens our efforts to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and the elderly. We thank our fellow NGOs for making this outreach possible.”
For more information about the organization the website is www.hellenicare.org and the telephone number 312-775-9000.
