13-14/02, Delphi, 1st Mediterranean Symposium "Health and Environment", Delphi Cultural and Conference Center. Co-organized by MESONISOS and KEAN
President of the Symposium: Ms. Jenny Kourea Kremastinou, Professor of Public Health and Administrative Hygiene, National School of Public Health Professor of Psychiatry, University of Athens Medical School, Mrs. Meni Malliori deputy. Professor of Psychiatry, University of Athens Medical School and Mrs. Marina Economou, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Athens Medical School, Mr. Gerasimos Rigatos, Professor of Oncology, University of Athens Medical School, Mr. Nikos Sitaras, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, University of Athens.
Completed the work of the 1st Symposium on: “Environment and Health” at the ” Delphi European and Cultural Centre “
The Symposium was co-organized by the Alternative Youth Search Cell “KEAN” and the Center of Mediterranean and Island Culture “MESONISOS”.
Within the framework of the Symposium, thematic units were developed, in relation to the environment, such as Public Health, Cardiology, Oncology and Psychiatry.
The relationship between man and the environment is a historical, evolving and unequal relationship, a relationship that is expressed in various ways in the field of Health.
In our time, when climate change is, unfortunately, a reality, when man is constantly interfering and altering nature, this relationship requires a different approach. The key is knowledge! Knowledge of the changes that are taking place, knowledge of the effects we have.
More objective and more critical knowledge enriched in a new concept of individual and collective responsibility and in a more comprehensive and integrated education of the citizen, the health professional, with the ultimate aim of disseminating environmentally friendly practices and behaviors.
The conference was opened by the President of the Scientific Committee of the symposium, Mrs. Jenny Kourea Kremastinou, Professor of Public Health and Administrative Hygiene at the National School of Public Health.
Mrs. Kremastinou pointed out the importance of the Environment as a key cleaner for the health of citizens. Health which she defined as the absolute physical, social and mental well-being. Important determinants for Public Health are social determinants such as : Peace, equality, unemployment, stress -which should not exist, drinking water, food sufficiency, childhood care and physical exercise. Ms. Kremastinou directly linked health to poverty and stressed that health is a purely political choice, as is the protection of the environment.
The proceedings continued with major presentations by leading scientists. The presentation of the Professor-in-charge of the Medical School of the University of Athens, oncologist, Mr. Gerasimos Rigatos, who also referred to the quality of health services offered by the various medical centers and private insurance companies, for which he said they act in an almost inflexible manner, was a sensation.
The pulmonologist and President of the Ergoresearch Company, Mr. George Koulouris, presented the TAMEX experiment conducted in Aliveri, concerning the effect of the pollutants of the polluted area on the respiratory system of the residents.
Mr. Nikos Sitaras, deputy director of TAMEX, presented the results of a study on the effects of the TAMEX test on human health. Professor of Pharmacology of the Medical School of the University of Athens, referred to “the aesthetics of balance”, in a presentation that will hardly be forgotten by those who attended, both for the way of presentation and for the full scientific coverage of the topic.
The presentation of the Professor of Cardiology, Mr. Dimitris Kremastinos, who spoke about the new landscape in Cardiology and how it is shaped by gene therapies, was very important. He stressed the importance of environmental conditions in the manifestation or not of cardiovascular diseases. That is, expected heart disease, due to gene predisposition – may never occur if we live in a friendly environment.
A similar finding was made by Mrs. Meni Malliori, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Athens, who directly linked mental illnesses with environmental factors, especially in childhood.
For the social stigma of patients suffering from mental illnesses and how it is strengthened or not depending on the environmental conditions, Ms. Marina Economou-Lalioti, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Athens Medical School, spoke.
The conference was closed by the organizers Mrs. Elisavet Grapsa – President of Mesonisos and member of the National Council of PASOK and Mr. Stavros Milionis – President of KEAN and member of the Scientific Council of ISTAME, who announced the 2nd Mediterranean Conference with the same theme: Environment and Health for 2010.
