MUNICIPALITIES: 134 PRACTICES
The Municipality of Hellinikon - Argyroupoli is a municipality in the region of Attica. It has a population of 51,330 inhabitants, an area of 15.7 sq. km. and is the 62nd largest municipality in Greece. The City Hall is located at L. Cyprus 68 in Argyroupoli.
More information: https://www.elliniko-argyroupoli.gr/
The Municipality of Hellinikon - Argyroupoli, having as its priority the prevention of the health of the women of the city, has been implementing programs of a preventive nature for many years that primarily aim to promote, protect and upgrade the primary care services provided at the local level.
In this context and with the support of the women of the city as a priority, it implements programs that primarily aim to protect the women of the city, female empowerment, support of women who accept violent behavior, those who experience a difficult daily life but also those who owe just to look after themselves, manage their emotions and their life in general in the best possible way.
It also carries out a screening program of the female population at the local level for cervical cancer, with the cytological examination of the cervical smear (Test Pap) in order to reduce the frequency and mortality of the disease where of course it is applied systematically.
At the same time, a program was implemented on the importance and early diagnosis of breast cancer with free clinical examination and breast ultrasound.
To all women, residents of the Municipality, uninsured or not, aged 18 and over.
Program :
a) ¨"Psycho-educational Women's Empowerment Program in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli. A new beginning. I am learning to take care of myself", beginning early 2020, followed by 3 more seminar cycles until the spring of 2020.
b) "The importance of prevention and early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Free Pap smear screening in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli", beginning December 2018 until today, observing all the health protocols of covid-19.
c) "The importance of prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer. Free Clinical Examination and Breast Ultrasound for women aged 20 to 45 in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupolis", beginning November 2019 and the re-operation of the clinic is planned, observing all health protocols of covid-19.
The Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupolis implemented actions to promote the mental and physical health of the women of our Municipality, over a period of three years, it carried out the following:
a) Psycho-educational Women's Empowerment Program in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli. New start. I'm learning to take care of myself!
The program aimed at empowering women, supporting women who experience violent behavior, those who experience a difficult daily life, who must take care of themselves, manage their emotions and their lives in general in the best possible way.
Through the two-hour weekly seminars of the program, an attempt was made to achieve the de-blame of the victims, their emotional independence from the abuser and the recovery of their self-control and self-esteem. At the same time, they were given legal information and special knowledge on the prevention of all forms of violence, so that they could recognize forms of violence in their early stages and prevent them. The opportunity was also given for individual counseling through the psychologists of the program from the beginning of each cycle to the end of them.
TOPIC OF MEETINGS
1st. Violence in our lives
2nd. Ourselves in the abuse
3rd Liability
4th Family and boundaries
5th Experiential workshop
6th Emotions
7th Fear & Anger
8th Depression
9th From mourning to joy
10th Experiential workshop
11th I discover myself
12th Communication
13th Changes in our life without violence
14th Introduction to psychotherapy
15th Experiential Workshop
b) The importance of prevention and early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Free Pap smear test in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli.
At the Gynecology Clinic of the Municipality, a screening of the female population for cervical cancer was carried out, with a cytological examination of the cervical smear (Test Pap), in order to prevent malignancies or lesions of the cervix as well as early diagnosis of any infections in women who live within the geographical boundaries of our municipality.
c) The importance of prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer. Free Clinical Examination and Breast Ultrasound for women aged 20 to 45 in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli.
Prevention, as well as early diagnosis, are decisive factors in the treatment of breast cancer. Breast cancer is usually a disease of older age with a median age of onset of 62 years. However, 10% of cases involve younger women, under 45 years of age. Generally in women under 40 it is relatively rare, but its effects at these ages are devastating in many areas.
Preventive breast imaging refers to performing tests BEFORE symptoms related to the disease of breast cancer appear. The ultimate goal is to diagnose breast cancer as early as possible. Cancers detected through screening are smaller in size than symptomatic cancers, which are palpable, larger in size and carry a greater risk of metastases outside the breast. The size and extension of the tumor initially constitute two of the key parameters for the overall prognosis of patients with breast cancer.
The beneficiaries were invited to participate in this preventive program in their municipality. From the evaluation of the provision of the above service in the voluntary municipal clinics of our municipality, the female citizens positively evaluated their easy and free access to the local health structure during and outside of work hours through a questionnaire.
The conclusions from the implementation of the above preventive action implemented in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupolis are recorded as positive since the women of the municipality applaud the cooperation of our Municipality with other Public and Private Agencies for their benefit, they appreciate the possibility of informing them about prevention programs which are implemented at the local level and wish to strengthen social support and equality structures in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli.
In the program "Psycho-educational Women's Empowerment Program in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli. A new beginning. I learn to take care of myself", from the registration of the above participants through a questionnaire, the typical profile of those who participated is a woman of average age 19 to 72, housewives, unemployed, with mainly public insurance, who are now or have previously experienced violence in their family or work environment or people who wish to know how they can help their own people and direct them.
160 women participated in the 4 seminar cycles that were successfully completed until the appearance of the corona virus.
In the program "The importance of prevention and early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Free Pap smear screening in the Municipality of Ellinikos-Argyroupoli", approximately 380 women, residents of the Municipality, uninsured or not, regardless of age, were examined at the Gynecology Clinic of the Municipality. Undoubtedly, the number of examinees is much smaller than the demand and the registration of citizens' requests since due to covid-19 there was a suspension of the operations of the clinics in our municipality.
Finally, in the program "The importance of prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer. Free Clinical Examination and Breast Ultrasound for women aged 20 to 45 in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupolis" approximately 40 women, residents of the Municipality, were examined at the Gynecological Clinic of the Municipality , uninsured or not, from 20 to 45 years old Secondary and Higher Education graduates. 8 cases with cystic formations as well as one case with a solid formation were found which were sent for further control.
Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli, Directorate of Social Services, Department of Public Health Prevention & Promotion.
Address: 27 Alexioupoleos, Argyroupoli
a) The program "Psycho-educational Women's Empowerment Program in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli. A new beginning. I am learning to take care of myself", was implemented in collaboration with M.K.O. W.I.N HELLAS that organized and implemented per year 2 cycles of 15 weekly seminars, lasting 2 hours, with topics related to women's empowerment, the development of personal relationships, family, emotions, personality and concerned all the women of our municipality but and neighboring areas. For years now, WIN HELLAS, through its psychologists and health advisors, has been supporting victims of any verbal or physical violence free of charge, as well as all women who wish to strengthen themselves mentally, rely on their own strengths and make dynamic decisions about their lives.
b) For the program "The importance of prevention and early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Free Pap smear screening in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli", the Free Pap smears were implemented in collaboration with the Helena Venizelou General Hospital, the 4th Obstetrics Department – Gynecological Clinic, under the responsibility of the Director Mrs. Vasiliki Sakelariou and the Midwife Mrs. Papakosta for all the women of our municipality.
c) The free screening for the action "The importance of prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer. Free Clinical Examination and Breast Ultrasound for women aged 20 to 45 in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli", was done in collaboration with the breast clinic of Mediterranean Hospital.
Employees of the Directorate of Social Services of the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupoli
The development of a culture of prevention is the main goal of all the actions organized in the municipality and is perhaps the best investment of the welfare state towards the citizen at the local level. Every favorable proposal from the public and private sector is taken advantage of to exploit good ideas, proposals and benefits.
The conclusions from the implementation of the above preventive action applied in the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupolis are recorded as positive since the women of the municipality applaud the cooperation of our Municipality with other Public Bodies for their interest. It is worth highlighting the memorandum of cooperation signed between the municipality and the Hospital, where it clearly records the need for a wider cooperation for the benefit of the citizens and the support of such initiatives that strengthen the project at a primary level of service provision. Also, the beneficiary women appreciate the valid possibility of informing them about prevention programs that are implemented at the local level, which is what every administration wants. The personal relationship that develops with each woman separately enables a holistic treatment of the health issue and the achievement of better long-term goals.
