Page 140 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - SEPT 2025
P. 140

Maritime benevolence


                                                                             he was hospitalised and intubated, to a
                                                                             specialised Transplant Centre in Turin
                                                                             that had secured a liver transplant was
                                                                             deemed necessary. The boy was imme-
                                                                             diately transported in the new state-of-
                                                                             the-art Beechcraft King Air 360C air-
                                                                             craft donated to the Hellenic Ministry
                                                                             of Health by the Stavros Niarchos Foun-
                                                                             dation (SNF) in May 2025. This particular
                                                                             aircraft was the most suitable choice for
                                                                             the boy’s air transport, as it met both the
                                                                             necessary medical and technical speci-
                                                                             fications and the required safety condi-
                                                                             tions, given the distance and duration
                                                                             of the flight. Subsequently, following the
                                                                             boy’s smooth air transfer to Turin, the
                                                                             transplant was completed successfully.
                                                                             The Ministry of Health, the National
                                                                             Centre for Emergency Care (EKAV), and
                                                                             the Air Force responded immediately.
                                                                             The SNF expressed its gratitude to the
                                                                             medical and nursing staff who selflessly
                                                                             contributed to the successful outcome
                                           shared request of the local community   of the incident – from the Health Centre
                                           for his support in the restoration and   of Metsovo and the General Hospital of
                                           renovation of the island’s historic church.  Ioannina G. Hatzikosta to the General
                                           Following this request, the President of   University Hospital of Patras – and, of
                                           Contships Management Inc. announced   course, to the medical team and the
                                           that he would fully fund the complete   EKAV paramedic who accompanied
                                           restoration of the Church of Saint Nich-  him to Turin.
                                           olas with a budget of €650,000, in   As part of its $1 billion-plus Global
                                           memory of his parents, Diamantis and   Health Initiative (GHI) – its largest ini-
                                           Anastasia Pateras, and his grandparents,   tiative to date – the SNF has supported
                                           Nikolas and Maritsa Pateras.      the procurement of five aircraft (three
                                           This joyous news filled the hearts of   aeroplanes  and two  helicopters) to
                                           Oinoussians around the world with deep   strengthen EKAV’s Air Ambulance Ser-
                                           emotion and happiness, according to the   vices. The implementation of the grant
                                           Mayor, who stated: “Our land, the birth-  was made possible through a collabo-
                                           place of many of our country’s great ben-  ration between SNF and the Hellenic
                                           efactors and donors, expresses its pro-  Ministry of Health, which has owner-
                                           found gratitude to the great benefactor,   ship of the aircraft, EKAV, which uses
                                           Mr Nikolas Diam. Pateras, and his family,   them, and the Hellenic Air Force, which
                                           and wishes him abundant health, bless-  assists in flight operations. During their
                                           ings, and the grace of Saint Nicholas,     first four years of operation (June 2021-
                                           the patron saint of our island and our lives.    March 2025), the five aircraft carried
                                           May he grant eternal rest to the souls     out nearly 3,500 patient transports
                                           of his ancestors”.                all across Greece.

                                           SNF-supported air ambulance       Announcement of the 8
                                                                                                     th
                                           transports 15-year-old to Italy   round of the “Points of
                                           for emergency transplant          Support” Programme’s results
                                           At  the  end  of  July 2025, news of  a   The eighth round of  the “Points of
                                           15-year-old boy who suffered acute liver   Support” Programme, which started
                                           failure following a heatstroke shocked   in 2015 and has to date funded a total
                                           Greece. His transfer from the Paediatric   of 191 projects with more than 104,000
                                           Intensive Care Unit of the General Uni-  beneficiaries, is a collaborative initiative
                                           versity Hospital of Patras (Rio), where   of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit

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