Program of Intercultural Mediation in Health runs successflully in 21 hospitals
The program of Intercultural Mediation in Health started in may 2010. The operation focuses on the value of the Intercultural Mediation in health, in order to facilitate contact and effective communication between immigrants and the administrative, nursing and medical staff in hospitals to facilitate access to public health services while taking into account their cultural particularities.
The program run successfully since May 2010 in 21 hospitals, 16 in Athens and 5 in Thessaloniki, employs 109 skilled employees from 25 nationalities speaking 35 languages and will last till autumn 2011. The 109 specially trained "intercultural mediators" have completed 120 hours training to learn the essentials for the Greek health system in general and serve as channels of communication between healthcare workers and immigrants. They have been selected from the fields of health and immigrants. 21 individuals are coordinators and 10 supervisors are from NGOs for the proper functioning of the new institution.
The program is implemented by the National School of Public Health in collaboration with the "Diastasi" Educational and Consulting Services, under the 2009 Annual Program of the European Integration Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals in (75%) and national funds (25% ).
Source: Eleytherotypia, 24.05.2011, http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=278247
