The Bodossaki Foundation collaborates with Goldman Sachs Gives to support socially vulnerable groups. The programme which has been created aimed to the ELIZA Society in combatting child abuse in Greece and the AURORA Association in providing support for patients suffering from haematological diseases. These aims were achieved through a variety of initiatives, which include:
1. ELIZA Society
Training mental health professionals to run Child Safety Care Units
The programme supported the work of the ELIZA Society and the operation of Child Safety Care Units in university paediatric departments in state hospitals in Northern Greece and Attica. These facilitate the examination of children suspected of being victims of abuse, while offering psychological support and assistance for the child and their family. Thus three child psychiatrists have been recruited for Child Safety Care Units at the ‘Papageorgiou’ General Hospital in Thessaloniki (1), the General University Hospital in Alexandroupoli (1) and the Attikon General University Hospital in Athens (1).
Support for the ELIZA 10454 Helpline
The programme funded the employment of a social worker for the ELIZA 10454 Helpline, which provides a) support to those working with children, chiefly in a professional capacity (teachers, doctors, nurses, carers, nursery teachers, etc.), who realise or suspect that a child is the victim of neglect or psychological, physical or sexual abuse, b) advice about legal and procedural issues related to the reporting of incidents of neglect and/or abuse, and c) psychological empowerment to investigate an incident of suspected neglect or abuse and psychological support for handling the incident appropriately and potentially reporting it.
2. AURORA
Laboratory Equipment for the Haematology Unit of the Evangelismos Hospital
Thanks to the programme much-needed equipment (an ELIspot reader) has been purchased for the Haematology Unit of the Evangelismos Hospital in Athens. The new equipment will enable doctors to assess patients’ immune response to viruses and provide appropriate treatment for those who do not respond to traditional antiviral treatments.
Counselling / Psychological Support Programme
The programme also expanded the forms of psychological support which Aurora offers for patients and their families and for medical staff.
Housing programme for patients
The programme also supported Aurora’s housing programme, which provides free accommodation for low-income patients and their families, if they are permanent residents in the region and have had bone marrow transplants in Athens and Patras.
