Greece: Emergency response to medical needs of homeless people

ATHENS, 21 February - Freezing temperatures and bad weather that struck Greece in early February led the Municipality of Athens to the decision to open temporary emergency shelters for the accommodation of homeless people.

Responding to this emergency and in collaboration with the Hospitality and Solidarity Centre of Athens Municipality, Médecins Sans Frontières launched an emergency intervention on February 1 that ended on February 19.

The Médecins Sans Frontières teams visited all of the above-mentioned centres in order to provide medical screening and treatment, support patient referrals to the national health system, and provide essential Non-Food Items (NFIs) and hygienic items when gaps were identified.

The teams that were present in the emergency shelters during late afternoon hours provided medical assistance to more than 245 people. The majority of the homeless people were males between 30 to 50 years old, and more than half were non-Greeks, with the vast majority among them being from North Africa.

The Médecins Sans Frontières teams responded to medical conditions such as upper respiratory tract infections, muscular-skeletal problems, gastrointestinal disorders and skin diseases related to bad weather and long term poor living conditions. Chronic non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart problems were also addressed and referred for follow-up to the health facilities.

The teams also identified a lack of hot water and hygienic items, as well as insufficient number of blankets and clothes. Despite the mobilisation of Greek society, the authorities' response was still lacking a coordination mechanism.

The main concerns now remain linked to the overall situation of homeless people in terms of access to health care and social services as the majority have no health insurance. Shelter is also a concern as these emergency centres will soon close down.