MdM provides relief to the most vulnerable
Amid the ongoing heatwave, MdM is stepping up its efforts in response to the alarming rise in the number of people experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness in the wider metropolitan area of Thessaloniki.
This intervention is part of the action “Continuation and strengthening of the Social Polyclinic of the MdM Greece in Thessaloniki with the integration of a Mobile Health Unit”, with the code 6001344, is being implemented under the “Central Macedonia” Programme 2021-2027, with funding from Greece and the European Union.
Extreme weather conditions, combined with already precarious living situations, highlight the urgent need for immediate and meaningful action. MdM mobile health unit, staffed by an experienced field team, has intensified its outreach work in the city, aiming to provide direct support and relief to the homeless population.
Since the beginning of the week, the MdM team—comprising a doctor, a social worker, and a nurse—has been visiting areas where people living in precarious conditions reside, both within the urban fabric of Thessaloniki and in neighboring municipalities of the metropolitan area. In addition to providing medical and psychosocial care, the team has been sharing information about available air-conditioned shelters and relevant support services that people can turn to during these challenging days. Furthermore, the team has been distributing bottled water, light meals, and essential items such as hats and sunscreen.
The outreach continues into the evening hours, as the MdM team covers the city street by street, offering relief to those living in difficult conditions, without security or stability.
Drawing on our experience and operational capacity to protect the most vulnerable, we remain alert and available to support the efforts of the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the Department of Social Policy, through our specialized staff and mobile health unit.
Our actions will continue throughout the week and for as long as extreme temperatures persist. At the same time, similar outreach and support efforts are being carried out to assist people affected by the heat in Athens and Piraeus.
