Together We Achieve More: SolidarityNow & Mission Anthropos Standing by the Most Vulnerable
The Thessaloniki Solidarity Center (TSC) collaborates with the organization Mission ANTHROPOS, joining forces to strengthen access to healthcare for all, without discrimination. This partnership includes the implementation of two important programs, offering vital support to the beneficiaries of the Solidarity Center.
“We Embrace – Women 45+”
The goal of this program is to promote prevention and access to healthcare services for women aged 45 and above, coming from vulnerable social groups who cannot afford basic medical services. Through the program, participants receive free, comprehensive preventive medical check-ups, which include:
• Blood tests
• Pap smear test
• Digital mammogram
• Breast ultrasound
• Bone density measurement
This initiative highlights the importance of prevention, awareness, and early diagnosis, giving every woman the opportunity to care for her health with dignity and safety.
“We Support” Medical and Pharmaceutical Care for All
The “We Support” program aims to cover the medical and pharmaceutical needs of uninsured, economically vulnerable individuals — children and adults, Greeks, migrants, and refugees alike. It focuses on people who lack health insurance and cannot meet their medical needs. Beneficiaries are referred from various support agencies, such as Municipal Social Services, NGOs, hospitals, elderly care units, and other community structures.
Through the program, beneficiaries gain access to essential healthcare services, filling a critical gap for those at the margins of the healthcare system.
The Power of Collaboration
For many of the Solidarity Center’s beneficiaries, these two programs represent their only access to healthcare. The collaboration between SolidarityNow (through the Thessaloniki Solidarity Center) and Mission ANTHROPOS proves in practice that together is the answer to the challenges people face — and that solidarity in action means no one is left alone.
Our common goal: to stand beside everyone in need.
Mrs. N.’s Story
After receiving multiple rejections on her asylum claim, Mrs. N. suddenly found herself homeless, having to leave the refugee accommodation center where she had been living. Around the same time, she began experiencing serious health problems, with intense symptoms, while having completely lost access to medical care. When the social workers at the Solidarity Center met her, her symptoms were evident and required urgent investigation. The team immediately reached out to Mission ANTHROPOS, emphasizing the need for emergency medical intervention.
The response was immediate and life-changing. Through the “We Support” program, Mrs. N. underwent the necessary medical examinations, which led to a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. With the doctors’ guidance and the organization’s support, she began insulin treatment, significantly improving her health and quality of life.
Her story demonstrates the importance of cooperation between organizations and the power of timely intervention. Because every person, regardless of origin or legal status, deserves care, dignity, and health.
Mrs. H.’s Story: When Care Becomes Salvation
Mrs. H., a 29-year-old Palestinian mother of three, faced a severe complication after giving birth to her third child: a brain hematoma. Doctors recommended immediate MRI scans to monitor her condition. However, the cost of private examinations was unbearable, while the waiting time in public hospitals was far too long for such an urgent case.
“I first came to the Solidarity Center in 2022 to get help with my tax declaration. They assisted me with many issues where I needed support. The best thing that happened was that they found a way for me to have an MRI — one that saved my life. It all started during my pregnancy with my third child, when I began to feel unwell and had strange symptoms. I gave birth by C-section in the seventh month because my life and my baby’s were at risk. The diagnosis was a blood clot in my head — I was hospitalized for 25 days. After that, I needed a follow-up MRI, but the hospital wouldn’t take me through the emergency department, and appointments were months away. So, I decided to turn again to SolidarityNow.”
Amid anxiety and uncertainty, she was informed about the “We Support” program for uninsured patients. Thanks to this initiative, she was able to undergo all necessary tests on time, receive proper medical monitoring, and continue her treatment safely. Today, she is recovering and able to care for her children, something that might not have been possible without this support.
Her story reminds us that behind every act of solidarity, there is a life transformed, a family relieved, and a hope reborn.