Children's Medical Fund - 2005

NATIONAL PHILOPTOCHOS FUNDS MEDICAL CLINIC IN AFRICA

In 2005 National Philoptochos presented a $35,000 donation from the Children’s Medical Fund to the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) for a Children’s Medical Clinic in Africa that was completed in July 2007 in Woliso, Ethiopia in the Western Highlands. The construction was funded by the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society and a group of private donors.

The residents of Woliso will now be able to receive modern medical care along with preventive medicine. The IOCC Head of Office Thomas Kivlan stated, "We are expecting this clinic to receive hundreds of patients every day because the clinic will mean access to medical assistance for people – particularly children – who have no access for basic medical problems."

Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, who serves as advisor to the National Philoptochos and Director of the Department of Philanthropy at the Archdiocese, traveled to Ethiopia in 2005 and saw first hand IOCC’s extensive USAID-funded program to educate Ethiopians in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. His Grace inspired the Philoptochos to extend its good works to the African continent to meet the great need that exists there for education and prevention. At the completion of the new clinic, His Grace expressed his gratitude to Philoptochos and the individuals who generously responded to this need. He further stated, "I hope that this will be the first of many projects we do on the African continent."