Médecins du Monde, since the beginning of the implementation of the government’s emergency program to restrict the free movement of citizens and the suspension of schools, businesses and services throughout the country, has been on the side of the most vulnerable groups of the population, continuing all their actions.
At the same time, under the framework of advocacy and protection of the right to health, new actions and projects have been designed and implemented to support, inform and assist people and communities in need.
Covid-19
MdM’s immediate response to the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 was defined by a difficult period of very strict health measures, including 2 general lockdowns, resulting in a very unpleasant reality, both for the Greek economy and for the majority of socially vulnerable groups, especially for the main beneficiaries of MdM, such as the homeless, Roma communities, poor households, asylum seekers and migrants.
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Greece was recorded in February 2020, while in December the country recorded 932 new cases, 438 patients in intensive care units (ICUs) and 50 new deaths, while since the beginning of the pandemic a total of 138,850 confirmed cases, 4,838 deaths and 1,328 ICU admissions had been recorded.
Greece at the end of 2020 was already facing the “double hit scenario”. The pandemic, according to OECD estimates, will lead to a 9.8% drop in the country’s GDP in the last quarter of 2020, while the European Commission and the Greek government’s estimates predict an economic recession of 8-10% for the period 2020-2021. Citizens in Greece are once again facing significant social problems, such as long-term unemployment, income poverty and uncertainty about the future.
MdM, true to the vision of “Health for all without discrimination and exclusion”, continued to work to support and protect vulnerable groups.