A bridge of giving and solidarity was created on Friday, 27 April, through the signing of two agreements between Greece and Albania that provide for, among other things, the Sisterhood of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – ELPIDA Children’s Oncology Unit with Tirana’s Mother Teresa University Hospital.
The agreements signed by the Greek Health Minister, Andreas Xanthos, the Albanian Health Minister, Ogerta Manastirliu, the President of the ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with Cancer, Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, the Governor of Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital, Manolis Papasavvas, and the Deputy Governor of Tirana University Hospital, Mirela Hasanaj, provide for the creation of a framework for close cooperation between the two countries and the two hospitals in the fight against children’s cancer.
The signing was held at the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – ELPIDA Children’s Oncology Unit, which was visited by the Albanian Health Minister in the context of an official visit to our country. Her arrival at the hospital was very moving, as children of Albanian origin who are being treated at the Children’s Oncology Unit welcomed her at the entrance.
Welcoming Ms. Manastirliu, Mrs. Vardinoyannis stressed that “today is a very special day for the whole ELPIDA family and the starting point of a new bridge of solidarity between Albania and Greece, via the health sector. Our countries have longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation, and today’s initiative will create yet another opportunity – this time, for saving children who are fighting an uphill battle against cancer at such a tender age.” Mrs. Vardinoyannis also expressed her personal thanks to Ms. Manastirliu for supporting the ELPIDA Sisterhood program, which “shows she is a special person driven by noble visions and values,” adding that she is certain that the Greek children who are in Albania and need hospital care at Tirana Hospital will get the best possible care.
Expressing her thanks for the support of the Minister of Health, Mr. Xanthos, Mrs. Vardinoyannis observed that “Mr. Xanthos has stood by us from the moment he took up this important mission at the Ministry of Health, fervently supporting our efforts. Being a doctor himself, he has a direct understanding of what is needed to fight this battle and he has often expressed his substantial support for ELPIDA’s children. They see him as an invaluable ally and supporter, especially since he himself strives every day to contribute to the health sector in our country.”
Minister of Health Andreas Xanthos spoke of the contribution made by the Children’s Oncology Unit and the ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with Cancer to the fight against children’s cancer, stressing the great importance of the cooperation established between Greece and Albania. “This is a special moment for everyone. The Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Children’s Oncology Unit sets a unique example as an island of excellence, sensitivity and solidarity in the Public Health System. Its creation was made possible by the generous contribution of the ELPIDA Association and it is a frame of reference for many countries. It is very important that a bridge of cooperation and solidarity is being created today between Greece and Albania,” the Minister said.
In her address, Ogerta Manastirliu said she was very moved and thanked Mrs. Vardinoyannis for supporting Albanian Children. “I am very moved today and I would like to thank my friend Marianna, who I consider to be a friend of children, and I want to thank her on behalf of all the Albanian children she has helped. Today is a very important day because it is only by working together that we can offer the very best to the children who are in such need,” she stressed. Mrs. Vardinoyannis and Ms. Manastirliu are close friends who met in 2016, when Mrs. Vardinoyannis and the First Lady of Albania, Odeta Nishani, visited Tirana University Hospital, where Ms. Manastirliu was the Governor at the time.
The Governor of Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital, Manolis Papasavvas, emphasised that “today is the beginning of important cooperation between our countries in the fight against children’s cancer. This agreement is about children, who are the future of every country.”
Immediately following the signing of the agreement, Mrs. Vardinoyannis conferred on Ms. Manastirliu and Mr. Xanthos the ELPIDA Solidarity Award, and both recipients place the stars with their names on them on the “Wall of Stars” at the Children’s Oncology Unit.
In a gesture of gratitude, Ms. Manastirliu gave Mrs. Vardinoyannis and Mr. Xanthos statuettes of Mother Teresa, who was Albanian and is a global symbol of charity and selfless giving.
Also present at the event was the Albanian Ambassador, Ardiana Hobdari, who supported the effort and was honoured with the ELPIDA Association’s Appreciation Plaque.
A bridge of giving and solidarity was created on Friday, 27 April, through the signing of two agreements between Greece and Albania that provide for, among other things, the Sisterhood of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – ELPIDA Children’s Oncology Unit with Tirana’s Mother Teresa University Hospital.
The agreements signed by the Greek Health Minister, Andreas Xanthos, the Albanian Health Minister, Ogerta Manastirliu, the President of the ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with Cancer, Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, the Governor of Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital, Manolis Papasavvas, and the Deputy Governor of Tirana University Hospital, Mirela Hasanaj, provide for the creation of a framework for close cooperation between the two countries and the two hospitals in the fight against children’s cancer.
The signing was held at the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – ELPIDA Children’s Oncology Unit, which was visited by the Albanian Health Minister in the context of an official visit to our country. Her arrival at the hospital was very moving, as children of Albanian origin who are being treated at the Children’s Oncology Unit welcomed her at the entrance.
Welcoming Ms. Manastirliu, Mrs. Vardinoyannis stressed that “today is a very special day for the whole ELPIDA family and the starting point of a new bridge of solidarity between Albania and Greece, via the health sector. Our countries have longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation, and today’s initiative will create yet another opportunity – this time, for saving children who are fighting an uphill battle against cancer at such a tender age.” Mrs. Vardinoyannis also expressed her personal thanks to Ms. Manastirliu for supporting the ELPIDA Sisterhood program, which “shows she is a special person driven by noble visions and values,” adding that she is certain that the Greek children who are in Albania and need hospital care at Tirana Hospital will get the best possible care.
Expressing her thanks for the support of the Minister of Health, Mr. Xanthos, Mrs. Vardinoyannis observed that “Mr. Xanthos has stood by us from the moment he took up this important mission at the Ministry of Health, fervently supporting our efforts. Being a doctor himself, he has a direct understanding of what is needed to fight this battle and he has often expressed his substantial support for ELPIDA’s children. They see him as an invaluable ally and supporter, especially since he himself strives every day to contribute to the health sector in our country.”
Minister of Health Andreas Xanthos spoke of the contribution made by the Children’s Oncology Unit and the ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with Cancer to the fight against children’s cancer, stressing the great importance of the cooperation established between Greece and Albania. “This is a special moment for everyone. The Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Children’s Oncology Unit sets a unique example as an island of excellence, sensitivity and solidarity in the Public Health System. Its creation was made possible by the generous contribution of the ELPIDA Association and it is a frame of reference for many countries. It is very important that a bridge of cooperation and solidarity is being created today between Greece and Albania,” the Minister said.
In her address, Ogerta Manastirliu said she was very moved and thanked Mrs. Vardinoyannis for supporting Albanian Children. “I am very moved today and I would like to thank my friend Marianna, who I consider to be a friend of children, and I want to thank her on behalf of all the Albanian children she has helped. Today is a very important day because it is only by working together that we can offer the very best to the children who are in such need,” she stressed. Mrs. Vardinoyannis and Ms. Manastirliu are close friends who met in 2016, when Mrs. Vardinoyannis and the First Lady of Albania, Odeta Nishani, visited Tirana University Hospital, where Ms. Manastirliu was the Governor at the time.
The Governor of Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital, Manolis Papasavvas, emphasised that “today is the beginning of important cooperation between our countries in the fight against children’s cancer. This agreement is about children, who are the future of every country.”
Immediately following the signing of the agreement, Mrs. Vardinoyannis conferred on Ms. Manastirliu and Mr. Xanthos the ELPIDA Solidarity Award, and both recipients place the stars with their names on them on the “Wall of Stars” at the Children’s Oncology Unit.
In a gesture of gratitude, Ms. Manastirliu gave Mrs. Vardinoyannis and Mr. Xanthos statuettes of Mother Teresa, who was Albanian and is a global symbol of charity and selfless giving.
Also present at the event was the Albanian Ambassador, Ardiana Hobdari, who supported the effort and was honoured with the ELPIDA Association’s Appreciation Plaque.