The Hellenic Initiative (THI) Australia will be providing specialist equipment for the Paediatric Trauma Centre in Kythira, in partnership with Pediatric Trauma Care (Pedtrauma).
The upgraded paediatric facilities at the General Hospital-Health Centre of Kythira will benefit approximately 1000 children annually, providing access to critical lifesaving care for residents of the island, south of the Peloponnese.
Kythira is the third regional hospital being supported through THI Australia’s AU$60,000 grant to Pedtrauma, which included the funding of a major upgrade of the Paediatric and Neonatal Clinics at the Ioannina and Kastoria general hospitals in 2018.
THI Australia President, Nicholas Pappas AM, said they were proud to be supporting children on Kythira and broadening the impact and reach of its grant to Pedtrauma.
“Thousands of children who pass through the hospitals in Kythira, Ioannina, and Kastoria every year will have access to these lifesaving facilities as a result of THI Australia’s support,” Mr Pappas said.
To date, more than 7300 children have benefitted from the upgraded facilities at Ioannina, which opened in October 2018 and more than 5000 children in Kastoria since September 2018.
Kythira has about 5,000 permanent residents and during the summer has a large influx of tourists, especially families. In winter access by boat is often difficult.
The new equipment for the Kythira Paediatric Trauma Centre, which costs approximately AU$10,000, is expected to be in place by October 2019.
*Photo credits: Courtesy of Effy Alexakis
