Konstantina N. Kyriakopoulou
Social worker, coordinator Open Polyclinic of Patras
Doctors of the Wolrd
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights
(Article 1).
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this
Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour,
sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or
social origin, property, birth or other status. (Article 2).
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person
before the law.
(Article 6).
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any
discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to
equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this
Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Human Rights & Reality
Social exclusion is a phenomenon and a consequence of
specific policies which caused gaps in society and hence
disruption of cohesion , equality and therefore freedom.
As Levitas (2004) supports «The socially excluded are
identified as a group outside the mainstream of society,
sometimes even as a group outside the boundaries of the
concept itself society (Levitas, 2004, sel.226).
The provision of cultural mediation in Greece, though a state
obligation nevertheless is
left in the wider friendly
assistance and action of NGOs. No policy to eliminate the
phenomenon does exist in Greece, apart from the little
money given for example in educational centers for the
training of cultural mediators. However, the theory must be
put into practice in order not to perpetuate a problematic
situation.
MEDICINS DU MONDE
 “Medicins
du Monde” is an international, medical,
humanitarian, nongovernmental organization. MdM –Greece,
maintaining their autonomy, both operational and financial,
organize, staff and finance missions through the Greek
department. MdM - Greece were established in 1990 and they
constitute a unique Greek Organization which follows its own
path based to the particularities of Greece, maintaining its
economic and administrative independence. At the same time,
however, they remain part of the International Net of MdM
which consists of 14 departments; Germany, Belgium, Spain,
France, United States, Cyprus ,Greece ,Italy, Netherlands,
Portugal ,United Kingdom ,Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Japan
and Argentina.
Open Polyclinic of Patras
The program “Open Polyclinic” operates with the aim of
providing primary medical health care and social
support to people who lack access to the National
Health Care System (as the immigrants), the refugees
without legal license of their stay in the country, the
poor people or these without insurance, homeless
people and Roma populations.
•With the translators’ aid we provide primary
medical care, social support, legal assistance
• Respecting
the country of
their origin, their cultural
frame of reference, the
specific needs, with active
listening and empathy, we
inform our clients for the
obligations and rights arising
from the possession of “red
card for applying asylum, the
opportunity for voluntary
repatriation, and the referral
to shelters. Furthermore,
many of our clients, wanting
to achieve social integration,
they proceed to actions
editing working permits.
 Realizing their living conditions (most of them are
homeless) we provide basic hygiene items, clothes and
sleeping bags.
 We also make campaigns, and try to aware agencies
and residents for the specific target group.
 We utilize a network of volunteers composed of
doctors from various specialties to cover additional
needs of the population
 Considering the demands of our clients, we make
proposals for the improvement of their living that will
assist them in order to be totally integrated
 Doctors of the World”, operating in this context and
understanding that multiculturalism is not only
related to the immigrant or refugee but also to the
person that comes from a different socioeconomic
status, implement programs with a twofold objective:
to prevent multi-problematic situations, and on the
other, they offer medical care to all those who are
excluded from the public health system
Doctors of the World
Sapfous 12 Athens
[email protected]
Kapodistriou 92
Patras
2610310366
[email protected]