H.M. The King Willem-Alexander and the Queen Maxima of The Netherlands, have visited the Oncologic Unit of Children “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA on Tuesday November 1st 2022, during the official visit in our country.
The Royal couple was welcomed by the President of “ELPIDA- Association of Friends of Children with cancer” Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and the Director of the Children’s Hospital “The Agia Sofia” and “P.&A. Kyriakou”, Mr. Manolis Papasavvas.
An especial moving moment was when the 7 years old Artemis-Loukia, a heeled child of ELPIDA, welcomed the King Willem-Alexander with a handicraft with the flags of Greece and The Netherlands and offered as well a bouquet of white tulips to Queen Maxima.
Immediately after that, Mrs. Vardinoyannis and Mr. Papasavvas accompanied the Royal couple at the Amphitheater of Unit where it took place a scientific discussion with subject: “Greece and The Netherlands: Combining forces for new therapeutically approaches for the children cancer” into the frame of which it was signed a Cooperation Agreement between the “Oncologic Unit of Children “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA” and the “Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology “ of The Netherlands being one of the most prestigious Oncologic hospitals in the World.
Mrs. Vardinoyannis has welcomed the King and the Queen with worm words as they have longtime family bonds of friendship. “Your kind presence marks a very special case at the history of “ELPIDA” and sends a strong message of solidarity to the Greek society and our little patients. Your significant humanitarian efforts with deeply affect all the world make you two rare and gifted personalities which make, with your kind orama, the world better. I would like to express, from the depths of my heart, my sincere thanks for your priceless support and friendship. All of us, the family of “ELPIDA” we feel a deep gratitude for your visit!.
The Hospital’s administrator welcoming the Royal Couple said that “the wish and orama of the whole family of “ELPIDA” and specifically of Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is for a world where any child with cancer will win the battle. We are now too close to succeed it as 3 to 4 children are heeled and the fourth very soon. This is a message of hope and our commitment as well. The cooperation’s with top hospitals such as Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology are very important for this battle”.
The successful cooperation between the two hospitals which started on 2015 has been underlined during the scientific discussion.
Dr. Evgenios Gousetis, Pediatrician , Hematologist-Oncologist NHS, Scientific in charge of the Center of Cell and Gene therapy of the Oncologic Unit “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA” referred to the details of the Agreement signed between the two hospitals and the importance of cooperation’s for the handling of cancer: “In order to successfully handle the cancer, researches from various centers all around the world, must join their forces to built up cooperation which permit further scientific developments which will allow the speedy development of innovative choices of therapies for the patients. It is an honor for us to cooperate with oncologists and scientists of Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology which is the largest pediatric research center in Europe for our common target to offer a better care for the cancer to our patients”.
Professor Rob Pieters, Director of Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, referred to the opening up of prospects arising from this cooperation and the scientific progress that has been achieved at the battle against the children’s’ cancer: “Our cooperation is carried out at two levels, the first one at the level of basic sciences research and at second level at the elaboration of joint clinical tests on advanced and targeted cell therapies. We must join our forces with the support always of the Royal Couple and “ELPIDA” of course”.
As a gesture symbolizing the joint battle of Greece and The Netherlands against the children cancer, the Royal Couple has placed the flag of The Netherlands on the “Chart of Peace and Hope” of the Hospital and two stars as well with their names on the “ Wall of Stars of ELPIDA”.
Right after that, the Royal Couple has participated on a Round Table discussion with object the details of cooperation between the two hospitals and visit a Painting Exhibition with works of the little patients of Oncologic Unit.
The Royal Couple has thereafter been guided all around the Hospital getting informed about the way of operation of the Center of Cell and Gene Therapy, an innovative laboratory where the most advanced therapies apply being a donation of “ELPIDA” Association.
The visit of the Royal Couple was completed with an emotional meeting and discussion with heeled children and their parents at the School of Oncologic Unit.
Her Majesty, the Queen Maxima of The Netherlands had, with Mrs. Vardinoyannis, had a warm conversation with the 14th years Ermis Zekas and his mother, Eva. Ermis suffered from Leukemia when he was just 10 months old. After therapies and hospitalization at the Oncologic Unit of Children he managed to win while, a few years later, Mrs. Vardinoyannis who was always at his side, baptized him.
Her Majesty the Queen Maxima of The Netherlands had a very warm discussion with Ermis and his mother for their battle against the cancer and emphasized is the heeled children to be able to offer strength and hope to the sick children being the example that, we must never put down. Mrs. Vardinogiannis has also told to the Queen for the warm relationship that has all these years with Ermis and his mother while she is always trying to be at their side.
His Majesty, the King Willem-Alexander has spoken with Panagiotis Kokkinos and Efi Vlami, who were sick during their childhood and thanks to the continues support of “ELPIDA” they are now adults and go on with their lives. The King Willem-Alexander, has carefully listened the stories of their lives being especially touched that, they have opened their hearts and shared with him their experience emphasizing how important is the existence of Oncologic Unit of Children which has saved the lives of thousands of children and how important is also the Gust House of “ELPIDA” where are hosted the families of children with cancer from the countryside.
The Royal Couple has expressed while leaving, his sincere thanks to Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and Mr. Papasavvas assuring them that, they will always be at their side to the battle against cancer.
There were also present during the visit, the Deputy Minister of Health of The Netherlands Government, Mr. Maarten van Ooijen and the Ambassador of The Netherlands in Greece, Mrs. Susanna Terstal.
The coordinator of the scientific discussion: “Greece and The Netherlands: Combining forces for new therapeutically approaches for the children cancer” was the journalist, Antonis Sroiter.
