NEW YORK, NY – [Photos courtesy of PAA]
Continuing its long tradition of charitable contributions across the island, the Pancretan Association of America inaugurated the first Epilepsy Monitoring Unit in Crete -only the third of its kind in a public hospital across Greece- in collaboration with the Region of Crete and the University General Hospital of Heraklion (PAGNI) during a modest yet distinguished ceremony on August 11.
The blessing was conducted by Archbishop Myron of New Zealand, who is visiting his homeland, Crete, along with Archbishop Eugenios of Crete.
Archbishop Eugenios expressed his gratitude to the PAA, its President, and its members for their continuous support, emphasizing that their works and charitable initiatives prove they have never forgotten Crete.
Archbishop Myron also thanked PAA President Diamanta Kounalakis and the members of the PAA for their unwavering assistance and generosity whenever a need arises.
The former PAA Philanthropy Chair, Evangelia Hobitakis, spoke of the years-long effort to raise the necessary funds and introduced the new Philanthropy Chair and Treasurer of the WCC, Nikoleta Bianca Pigounakis.
PAA President Diane Kounalakis thanked the numerous donors from the United States, as well as Governor Arnaoutakis, who matched PAA’s contribution. In her speech she stated that “Today is a great day for the Pancretan Association of America. We managed to complete this project in just one year, thanks to the support and generosity of our members. It is a new chapter in our long tradition of giving to Crete, which began in the 1940s. We are grateful to all the donors who made a project possible that will benefit many generations of our compatriots. We are very proud of this achievement and will continue every day to support our homeland, Crete”.
She also thanked Dr. Yiannis Karakis, who first presented the proposal to the PAA and supported it until completion, as well as everyone at PAGNI who embraced the project and noted that in was and honor to collaborate with Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis.
Nikos Kastrinakis, President of the WCC and Vice President of the PAA, spoke about the longstanding contributions of the PAA, including the construction of the Venizeleio Hospital of Heraklion, a PAA project, as well as its founding donations to all major hospitals in Crete. As he noted: “Today, the history of the PAA’s philanthropy toward Crete’s healthcare institutions comes full circle. With this significant donation to PAGNI, a cycle is completed that began with the vow of the Cretans of America to Eleftherios Venizelos, immediately after his passing. A cycle that may be complete, but never closed”.
He thanked Governor Arnaoutakis, Dr. Karakis for his role in staffing the Unit, as well as the Governor of the 7th Health Region of Crete Nektarios Papavasileiou, the Director of PAGNI Vivi Giannadaki, and all who contributed to the project’s realization.
Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis, who enthusiastically supported the program from the very first moment it was presented to him last summer, spoke of the need to strengthen such life-saving initiatives and collaborations. He highlighted the fruitful partnership between the PAA, the Region of Crete, and PAGNI, thanks to which this dream became reality, allowing patients to no longer travel outside the island for treatment. He remarked: “The donation of the Cretans of America further upgrades the island’s public health system and constitutes the highest act of humanitarianism”.
Dr. Yiannis Karakis spoke of the decisive impact this project will have on the lives of many patients with epilepsy, stating: “It is a day of celebration, a day of deep gratitude, and a day of hope, so that we may be able to help people suffering from epileptic seizures, first diagnostically and then therapeutically”. He noted that statistically, 10% of the population experiences an epileptic seizure at some point in their lives, while epilepsy itself affects 1% of the population. He also expressed hope that the Clinic will soon become a reference center for all of Crete and Greece.
Expressions of gratitude followed from the Governor of the 7th Health Region of Crete Nektarios Papavasileiou, as well as from Dr. Panagiotis Mitsias, Director of PAGNI’s Neurology Clinic, which houses the Epilepsy Unit, who spoke via teleconference. PAGNI Director Dr. Giorgos Chalkiadakis also thanked the PAA for the donation, praising the work and dedication of the hospital’s medical and nursing staff, and noting: “It has already begun offering significant services, even though the inauguration takes place today”.
Equally moving was the testimony of a mother of a child with epilepsy, who spoke passionately about how the treatment saved her son.
After the speeches, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, and all attendees had the opportunity to tour the new facility.
The event was honored by many PAA members,including former WCC President and former PAA President Manolis Velivassakis, WCC Secretary Maria Vamvaki, WCC Vice President for Greece Theodoros Tsontos, and PAA Representative in Crete Iakovos Kaloidas.
This day marked a historic milestone not only for the residents of Crete but also for Cretans in America, who continue to embrace their homeland and tirelessly support charitable projects across all regional units of Crete. Over the past four years alone, the Pancretan Association of America has donated nearly $500,000 for philanthropic causes.
