Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited several public institutions in northern Greece on Wednesday.
He began by visiting the "Melissa" Orphanage for Girls in Thessaloniki, where he had the opportunity to speak with the girls staying at the facility.
Mitsotakis was given a tour of the premises by the members of its board and reassured them that the government supports welfare institutions, especially those involved with children.
The "Melissa" Orphanage for Girls in Thessaloniki institution currently hosts 27 girls, of which 20 are minors and seven are young adults.
The Prime Minister gave each girl a tablet as gift.
The next stop on Mitsotakis' tour of northern Greece was the Hospital of Giannitsa and the town's health centre, which also serves as the vaccination centre for Pella.
"I came to thank you for your great efforts. I want you to know that you have my unconditional support in your struggle," Mitsotakis told the hospital's employees.
"We know that the hospital of Pella was particularly hard hit by the second wave of the pandemic and was stretched to its limits. We did anything possible to support it and I want to thank the doctors and the volunteers that offered to support the hospital," he added.
Mitsotakis also underlined the need to remain vigilant and urged people to spend the holidays with immediate family.
The last stop on the tour was Veria Hospital. Talking to the hospital's staff, he urged them to step up and get vaccinated first, in order to give a good example to others.
"A huge preparatory effort has been made by the state and all the ministries involved and more than 1,000 vaccination centres have been set up," Mitsotakis said, expressing confidence that people in healthcare "who were on the front line of the battle, who we have a duty to protect first of all so that they can continue to protect us," will do this.
The PM also visited the new wing of hospital which will be completed in early 2021.
"I am glad that timeless obstacles have been overcome. I would like to remind you that this wing was to be delivered in 2016, it will be delivered successfully in the first months of 2021. I would like to congratulate the Commander for the great effort he has made to make this new wing, which is, in fact, a new hospital for the city of Veria, to be ready as soon as possible, with a truly exemplary Intensive Care Unit."
"I think it is a legacy for the wider region, the best practical proof that this government will continue to substantially support the National Health System," he concluded.
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