THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES ATTEND OPENING OF NEW PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIO-SURGICAL UNIT AT CHILDREN’S CLINIC OF MITERA HOSPITAL IN GREECE

Belgrade, 13 June 2008 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine attended last night the ceremonial opening of the new Pediatric Cardiology and Cardio-surgical Unit at the Children’s Clinic of the Mitera Hospital in Athens, expressing their gratitude for the great humanitarian donation concerning the cardio-surgery operation of little Sara from Serbia. The new Unit has a Surgery Room, a Pediatric Cardio-surgical Intensive Care Unit and a Hemodynamic-Electrophysiology Laboratory, equipped with the most sophisticated equipment and staffed with the most qualified and experienced doctors and nurses. The investment was worth six million Euros, but the real value for children with cardio logical problems is priceless. The Clinic is headed by Dr. Yiorgos Sarris, Pediatric Cardio Surgeon, Dr. Ioannis Papagiannis, Pediatric Cardiologist, and Dr. Georgios Kyrvasilis, Pediatric Anesthesiologist.

Their Royal Highnesses together with Dr. Sarris and his team of doctors had a tour of the new Unit and visited little Sara who is recovering successfully. Crown Princes Katherine invited Dr. Sarris and his team to attend the opening of the Department for Congenital Anomalies at the Children’s Hospital in Belgrade. A seven-year old girl, Sara Stanojevic from Serbia was first operated on as an infant in Belgrade. Dr. Yiorgos Sarris operated on her again in Athens in 2001. Sara’s third needed operation took place in the Mitera Hospital at the new Unit, on 14th May 2008 successfully. With mediation of HRH Crown Princess Katherine, Dr. Sarris performed this operation as a kind donation and also the Mitera Hospital Board of Directors kindly donated the hospitalization of little Sara.

The opening of the new Unit at the Mitera Hospital in Athens was attended by various Ministers in the Greek Government: HE Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos, Minister of Health and Social Solidarity who also delivered the opening speech, HE Mr. Athanasios Yiannopoulos, former Deputy Minister of Health and Social Solidarity, Mr. Yiorgos Patoulis, Mayor of Maroussi. Also present were Mr. Zoran Jankovic, on behalf of the Serbian Embassy in Athens, Prof. Yiorgos Kreatsas, Deputy Dean of University of Athens and President of the Medical School of Athens, Prof .Emmanouel Kalokairinos, President of the Panhellenic Medical Association, Prof. Sotiris Rigakis, President of the Medical Association of Athens, Mr Konstantinos Stavrou, Chairman BOD of YGEIA and MITERA Hospitals, Mr. Themistoklis Charamis, Chairman of Executive Committee of YGEIA GROUP.