The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has recently awarded the global humanitarian organization, hellenicare a $266,000 grant to provide health care services, training to health care professionals and community health care education to Hellenes and their neighbors living in the Vlore region of Albania. This new project represents an expansion of hellenicare’s medical programs in Albania.

In addition, through private resources, hellenicare will also be establishing a laboratory and diagnostic service program in conjunction with the Himare Government Health Center. hellenicare also supports a health care center in Georgoutsates, Albania that was established in conjunction with His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios.

“We are grateful to USAID for support of this project which will help many of our fellow Hellenes and neighbors in southern Albania,” said Andrew A. Athens, Founder and President of hellenicare. “The mobile medical program, the training services and public health education component we are providing will improve access and service delivery to vulnerable populations in this region of Albania,” continued Dr. Charles Kanakis, Jr. Director of Medical Affairs.

University Research Corporation, a nongovernmental organization that does medical training in Albania and Diakonia Agapes, the humanitarian service organization of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Albania, will assist hellenicare with the training and community health education components. Dr. Flora Matou a physician at the Himare Government Health Center will be coordinating the mobile medical unit component that will provide medical care to rural villages. hellenicare’s grant represents an expansion by USAID into southern Albanian. hellenicare expresses it’s gratitude to USAID for supporting this health care project that will make a positive impact on the well being of Hellenes and their neighbors living in southern Albania.