<nettime> One more from Athenes: against the eviction of the Elleniko health centre

[Patrice Riemens <patrice@xs4all.nl>]

IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN SOCIAL HEALTH CENTRE OF ELLINIKO (MKIE)

The state company of ELLINIKO A.E. issued last week an ultimatum 
demanding "Metropolitan Social Health Centre of Elliniko" (MKIE) to 
evacuate its premises in the publicly owned old airport of Elliniko. 
This is in order to facilitate the privatization of the old airport, 
despite the resistance of all those who demand a creation of a 
Metropolitan park, a green area of culture and sport activities open to 
all in its space.

The ultimatum demands the MKIE to empty its premises by the 30th of June 
(!), without proposing any alternative space for re-location in another 
public building. Therefore, this is not just an eviction but a lethal 
blow.

MKIE was founded in December 2011 and it has been the continuation of 
the vast mobilizations of Syntagma sq. in that summer. It was and still 
is the response of socially active and sensitive citizens against the 
violence of the crisis and austerity that was imposed to the many by the 
few.

Its primary aim has been the provision of free health services and 
medicine for anyone uninsured, unemployed and poor, the first victims of 
the crisis who were abandoned by the public health care services. At the 
same time, it claimed the reinstatement of free and universal health and 
medical care for all those excluded from them.

Moreover, with its action created a new way and mode in the provision of 
health services, putting the human beings in the center of health 
practice, and not only the illness.

Based on self-organization, autonomy, horizontal democratic function and 
without any kind of political or economic bonds, MKIE inspired and 
brought together hundreds of volunteers. All these years, the latter 
have cared with solidarity and respect 7.366 individual patients in over 
64.000 visits to MKIE. Moreover, the needs of MKIE are supported by 
solidarity actions developed by thousands of people in Greece and 
internationally.

The MKIE from its start serves people from all over Attica and beyond. 
It has also supported with medicine, refugee camps, NGOs and public 
hospitals. MKIE wants to continue without any obstacle its operations 
because it is still a need for this. For that reason, MKIE is determined 
to fight shoulder to shoulder with all its patients and supporters.

We, the undersigned, who work in academic and research institutions, 
recognize the immense social and humanitarian contribution of the MKIE. 
Moreover, we consider it an innovative example of communal management of 
public assets and of urban space, an incubator of novel approaches to 
the health practices, and a space where new social relations and 
knowledge is produced. Therefore, we state wholeheartedly our support in 
its struggle to continue its route on the road of solidarity, dignity, 
respect and humanism.

pictures & report on MKIE:  
http://www.recentering-periphery.org/athens-hellinikon-international-airport/

If you would like to express your solidarity to the volunteers and the 
patients of MKIE, you could sign the following letter by sending an 
e-mai to <fereniki3@hotmail.com> until 20th June. Please state your full 
name, title and affiliation.
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