οΏ½Every donation to the Primary Health Care Initiative (PHCI) of the World Council of Hellenes (SAE) has great impact on the health and well being of vulnerable Hellenes in the former Soviet Republics and Albania and the contributions of the Styliades Hellenic Orthodox Foundation and Dr. John Panton and his family will have a lasting effect,οΏ½ said Andrew A. Athens, President of SAE and founder of the PHCI at a luncheon held on April 7th at the Rosewood Restaurant recognizing the outstanding contributions made by Mr. and Mrs. James Thomas of the Styliades Foundation and the Panton family.

The Styliades Hellenic Orthodox Foundation was instrumental in establishing the Hellenic Medical Center of Tsalka, Georgia.  The FoundationοΏ½s major contribution not only renovated an existing building in Tsalka in which to house the medical center, it also provided for all of the medical equipment the center needed to help vulnerable Hellenes and their neighbors.  Tsalka is a historic Hellenic community in Georgia, where Hellenes have lived for centuries.  

Recently the Hellenes of Tsalka have been the victims of terrorism by other ethnic groups living in the region, who have so far murdered 10 Hellenes, including the husband of the nurse who works at the PHCI clinic in Tsalka.  Scores of homes have been vandalized and some 2,000 Hellenic homes have been confiscated.  President Athens and the World Office of SAE have launched a major campaign putting pressure on the Georgian Government to stop the violence against Hellenes.  Mr. Athens is visiting Tsalka to meet with local Hellenic leaders and Georgian officials.

Upon hearing about the outdated medical equipment the ophthalmologist at SAEοΏ½s medical center in Tbilisi, Georgia was using, Dr. John Panton, a leading ophthalmologist in Chicago, along with his family, immediately began working to secure new eye care equipment for the Tbilisi health care center.  Thanks to Dr. Panton and his familyοΏ½s donation, the PHCI medical center in Tbilisi will greatly improve its diagnostic and treatment capabilities in the area of ophthalmology.

οΏ½Thanks to the generosity of the Styliades Hellenic Orthodox Foundation and the Panton family, the PHCI has made great strides in not only providing health care to people who need it most, but improving the quality of care given,οΏ½ said Mr. Athens. οΏ½I am grateful to the Thomas and Panton families for taking the initiative to help the οΏ½forgottenοΏ½ Hellenes of Georgia and I appreciate all of our donors who have demonstrated their concern by supporting the work of the PHCI,οΏ½ continued Mr. Athens.

With more than 700,000 people having received medical care from PHCI programs in Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine and Albania, through over 2.1 million patient services and the distribution of nearly $80 million worth of medicines, medical supplies and equipment, the PHCI is fulfilling its mission of restoring help and hope to those in great need.  Future PHCI plans include new health care centers in Chimara, Albania and southern Russia.

For more information about the PHCI, call the SAE World Office at 312-337-7243.  To send a donation, mail your check or money order to World Council of Hellenes, 980 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1210, Chicago, Illinois 60611.  For online donations visit SAEοΏ½s website at www.saeworld.org.