Where we work
Bulgaria
In Varna we work together with our cooperation partner Arbeitskreis Nord-Ost and we provide medical care for people who have left the war zones in Ukraine. They are suffering from poor housing and living conditions in Bulgaria. Most of our patients come from Mariupol, Odessa and other parts of eastern Ukraine. For this we have mobile equipment and vehicles to visit those people in their shelters, as well as various as doctor’s rooms in some shelters.
Services we offer:
- Primary healthcare and accompaniment in the Bulgarian health system
- Acute and chronic wound care
- Referral to more advanced medical services, dental work and psychological support
- Digital patient documentation
- Cooperation with UN agencies
Our team:
- 1 coordinator
- 2 to 3 doctors
- Interpreters
- Support from within the local community
Our resources:
- Large team of on-site support
- 2 cars
- IT system
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Advanced training on arrival
Athens
In Athens we treat 400 patients per month, mostly from Afghanistan, DR Congo, Cameroon, and Greece. Since December 2021, we mainly operate from our own clinic, Meraki, located in the centre of Athens, while we keep offering our services in our partner spaces in different locations around the city. We also visit camps in the Attika area, make home visits and escort our patients to the hospital when needed, and we are always ready for emergency response. Another one of our activities is the street outreach shifts, where we cooperate with several partners to offer healthcare services to the street connected, who are usually excluded from healthcare structures due to stigma and prejudice. The homeless population, people with problematic substance use, and women in prostitution are some of the (mostly local) people we connect with through our outreach activities. We also link our patients with specialized services in the public and NGOs’ healthcare system, making around 100 referrals and managing 5 complex medical cases a month.
Services we offer:
- Primary healthcare and support in the Greek healthcare system
- Referral to specialised medical services, including mental health services and social pharmacies
- Health education and promotional presentations
- Emergency response
- Street outreach activities
Our team:
- 1 long term coordinators
- 4 to 5 doctors
- 2 to 3 medical staff
- An adaptable interpretation team, including interpreters from within the community
(Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Lingala, Spanish, Greek)
Our resources:
- Our own clinic space, where we can offer a safe space to our patients
- Key partnerships which enable us to run clinics and store supplies at a very low cost
per patient - Medical supplies and equipment
- A dedicated and hardworking team
- Outreach programs in the refugee camps in the greater Athens area
Mental Health for Children & Youth
The MHPSS project for children, teenagers and families in Athens has the objective to protect and promote psychosocial well-being of children and caregivers.
The project is built on two main pillars. On one hand, the aim is to provide a safe space for children and teenagers to foster resilience and mitigate psychological distress by encouraging positive coping mechanisms and mental health awareness. On the other hand, MVI offers spaces for caregivers providing a trustworthy space to discuss about upbringing and how to best support their children, where they can speak freely without being judged or blamed nor imposing a single way of practicing parenting.
Our team:
- 1 Coordinator
- 1-3 Mental Health Worker Volunteers (Psychologist, Child Psychiatrist, Social Worker, Pedagogues, or or related fields)
- An adaptable interpretation team, including interpreters from within the community
(Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Lingala, Spanish, Greek)
Our offer:
- Individual psychological diagnostics
- Psychosocial support in groups for children and adolescents
- Psychoeducational group sessions for parents
Serbia
We care for patients daily along the border and in various squats. Our team provides acute medical support for injuries and chronic illnesses. We also provide emergency medical care training.
Our services:
- Primary health care
- Case management
- Referral to advanced medical, dental and mental health services.
- Referral to legal support, housing, food and clothing
- Emergency care
- Manual patient:internal documentation
- Documentation of human rights violations
Our team:
- 2 coordinators
- 3 to 4 doctors
- 3 to 4 professionals
Our resources:
- Mobile deployment options to react flexibly to changing flight routes in order to reach as many people as possible.
- A large network of partner organisations, which makes it possible to provide patients with comprehensive care, e.g. clothing and food.
SEA PUNK I
Due to the lack of legal escape routes, over a hundred thousand people fleeing wars and violence have to take the perilous route across the Mediterranean every year. In completely overcrowded, unseaworthy boats, they often drift on the sea for days in storms, heat and cold without enough food and drink. Thousands of people lose their lives every year on this route. Instead of rescuing, the European coast guards usually brutally push the boats of the refugees away. That is why civilian ships like the “SEA PUNK I” are needed for sea rescue.
On board, Medical Volunteers International e.V. provides professional medical staff and a medical container to care for them. This is a cooperation project with the association “Sea Punks e.V.”, who operate this rescue ship.
Our services:
- Emergency care
- First aid training
- Primary health care
- Documentation of human rights violations
Our team:
- 1 doctor
- 1 paramedic/nurse
Our resources:
- Medical treatment station in a container on board
- Medical material and equipment
