Aid of the shipping industry in the battle against the pandemic

SYN-ENOSIS’ contribution to the National Health System, the frontline doctors and nurses in the long-term battle against Covid-19, was and is still of significant importance. Till today, more than 55 Hospitals and reference laboratories have been supported with the provision of equipment, essential in the fight against the pandemic but also for the best treatment of thousands of our fellow citizens.
Dealing with this unprecedented health crisis, the Greek shipping community with the immediate response of 151 members raised 13.1 million Euros, utilized by its’ Social Welfare Company SYN-ENOSIS to supply the National Health System with 335 ICU ventilators, 20 portable ventilators, 200 ICU monitors, 100 ICU hospital beds, the first negative pressure ambulance of the National Centre of Emergency Care for the safe transport of COVID-19 patients and a variety of consumables medical and sanitary equipment.

In this challenging time, it is noteworthy that the required equipment, donated by the shipping community, has already been installed and placed in operation, to address hospitalized patients’ demanding needs and ICU’s preparedness at Hospitals in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, Larissa, Ioannina, Alexandroupoli, Crete and at 25 leading hospitals in Greece.
By a joint decision of the Ioannis S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation and SYN-ENOSIS, in 2020, the annual co-funded program “COLLABORATING FOR HEALTH” was dedicated to the procurement of 24,000 SARS-CoV2 diagnostic tests and equipment to cover the needs of the University Laboratories of Athens and Thessaloniki and the Pasteur Institute. Moreover, SYN-ENOSIS delivers crucial support to doctors and nurses with the provision of medical supplies and consumables (medical face masks, medical protective uniforms etc.) in Hospitals while it also funds four research projects conducted by distinguished Greek scientists to tackle COVID-19.

The shipping community in prompt response to the Ministry of Education request to support distance learning, donated 5,000 tablets to cover students and teachers needs across the country.
Emphasis has been placed on the enhancement of the Hellenic Police, the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Hellenic Fire Brigade challenging work and their decisive role in protecting and promoting public health, by the continuous supply of personal protective equipment and consumables, as well as the significant upgrade of their fleet.
The shipping community’s collective activity in the health sector alongside its members’ individual initiatives - continues in 2021 along with the implementation of its’ ongoing, extensive public welfare program.

The provision of bedding items to the 120 public hospitals of the country and to the National Centre of Emergency Care, has been completed. This significant donation of beds clothing for adults, children and infants, which includes in total 106,000 bed sheets, 25,000 pillowcases and 28,000 blankets together with 2,000 bedsheets, 2,000 pillowcases, 2,000 blankets and 4,000 flannel fiber diapers, has already been received by the public hospitals in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, Ioannina, Larissa, Alexandroupoli, Aegean and Ionian islands and Crete as well as in more than 45 cities across the country.

At the same time, SYN-ENOSIS’ contribution to the renovation project of nursing units of public hospitals in Attica, improves the patients’ quality of life and sense of dignity. This huge project has been completed at the General Hospital of Athens “LAIKO” and the Penteli General Hospital for Children and soon will follow Erythros Stavros, Evagelismos, Asklipieio Voulas Hospital and General hospital of Nikea, whilst the outlining procedures for the remaining hospitals.
The donation of 20 fully equipped Peugeot Boxer ambulances, to the National Centre of Emergency Care and 2 to the Hellenic Police, was recently announced. It should be pointed out that, these next generation ambulances are the first in Greece equipped with an electric assistance stretcher and a mechanical assistance patient’s seat which upgrade the operational capabilities of EKAV and provide better care to patients.