One of the highest ranking members of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration, Mr George Sigounas, met with the President of the Association of Friends of Children with Cancer “ELPIDA,” Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, on Friday, 15 February 2019.

During their meeting, they had the opportunity to discuss topics related to developments in the world of healthcare, as well as issues related to all the latest scientific discoveries in the treatment of childhood cancer.

Mrs Vardinoyannis briefed Mr Sigounas in detail on the important achievements and collaborations of the Paediatric Oncology Hospital, which was recently recognized as a Center of Excellence.“Our meeting today is very important, because one of our main goals is to serve as a bridge of contribution between states in order to provide the best possible care for children with cancer. And I would like to inform you that already through our collaboration with the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, our Hospital has been declared a Center of Excellence. At this time, 3 out of the 4 children that are hospitalised are cured. Our goal is to cure 4 out of the 4 children”.

Mr Sigounas on his part noted: “You have done outstanding work here at the Paediatric Oncology Hospital. You meet very high standards. The patients have all the support they need and I believe that the country is very lucky to have such a hospital. The doctors are people who believe in what they do and they are determined to help as many children as possible and their parents. This hospital has been designed to offer true support to the children and their families”.

As a sign of recognition for his support to the Paediatric Oncology Hospital, Mrs Vardinoyannis offered Mr Sigounas the honorary plaque of the ELPIDA Association.

Mr Sigounas was given a tour at the “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA” Paediatric Oncology Hospital by the Director of the “Agia Sofia” and “P&A Kyriakou” Children’s Hospitals, Mr Manolis Papasavvas.

It is worth noting the Mr Sigounas is visiting our country at the invitation of the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academic of Athens, where he will give a lecture titled ““The High Healthcare Targets in the US: Health Services for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations”