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Greece: Healthcare denied to severely sick refugee children in Lesbos

The goverment is unwilling to find a systemic solution for these children.

23 Jan 20

Since 2016, MSF medical teams in Greece have provided services including basic healthcare, treatment for chronic diseases, sexual and reproductive healthcare, physiotherapy, clinical psychological care, and psychiatric care, along with a comprehensive social support package. Today, Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders teams work on the islands of Lesbos, Samos and in central Athens.

In Moria camp, on the island of Lesbos, the Greek government is deliberately depriving at least 140 children with chronic, complex and life-threatening diseases of adequate medical care. MSF is calling on the Greek government to act on these grave medical concerns and evacuate all severely ill children to the Greek mainland or other EU member states, where they can receive appropriate medical care

“We see many children suffering from medical conditions, such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease, who are forced to live in tents, in abysmal, unhygienic conditions, with no access to the specialised medical care and medication they need"
Dr  HIDLE VOCHTENMSF COORDINATOR IN GREECE

"Children in abysmal, unhygienic condition"

“We see many children suffering from medical conditions, such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease, who are forced to live in tents, in abysmal, unhygienic conditions, with no access to the specialised medical care and medication they need,” says Dr. Hilde Vochten, MSF’s medical coordinator in Greece. “MSF is in discussions with the Greek authorities in order to transfer children to the mainland for urgent medical care, but despite the fact that some children were screened, none have been transferred yet. 

The government’s general unwillingness to find a swift, systemic solution for these children, including some babies, is outrageous – it harms their health and could lead to life-long consequences or even death.”

In July 2019, the Greek government revoked access to public healthcare for asylum seekers and undocumented people arriving in Greece, leaving more than 55,000 people without medical care.

"We live in a tiny space with no electricity"

Since March 2019, doctors in MSF’s paediatric health centre outside Moria camp on Lesbos have seen more than 270 cases of children suffering from chronic and complex illnesses, such as heart disease, epilepsy, and diabetes. These require specialised treatment, which the MSF health centre is not equipped to provide. The local public hospital on Lesbos is also incapable of providing care for this additional number of patients and some specialised services are not available.

"My daughter, Zahra, is suffering from autism and we live in a tiny space with almost no electricity. Often in the middle of the night, she has seizures and there is no one to help us. I just want to be in a space where my daughter can play like other children and be treated by a good doctor." Says Shamseyeh, from Afghanistan, who lives in Moria camp.

MSF nurse Theofilos, changes the bandage of the 6 year old Behnaz from Afghanistan. She got burned from boiling water while living in the camp of Moria.

"Denying sick children from medical access"

For the last four years, MSF has repeatedly denounced Moria camp as a human tragedy driven by government policies. This situation makes it clear, once again, that the migration policies generated by the EU-Turkey deal of 2016 are creating unnecessary suffering and putting many lives in danger.

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“Children, women, and men are paying the unjust price of migration policies based on deterrence. Denying children suffering from serious diseases access to healthcare is just the latest cynical move, and it is truly beyond belief,” says Tommaso Santo, MSF head of mission of in Greece.

End the suffering 

The immediate evacuation from Lesbos of all people suffering from chronic and complex conditions,  prioritising children by establishing a system of regular transfer, to appropriate accommodation near providers of specialised medical care.

The urgent and immediate provision of access to free, timely and adequate healthcare for all asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors and undocumented people in Greece.  End of the system of containment of refugees and asylum seekers in horrific and inhumane conditions on Lesbos.

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