DefMin Nikos Dendias and DepMin Ioannis Kefalogiannis attend the Opening Ceremony of the 6th Military Medicine Pan-European Regional Convention of the International Committee[...]

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DefMin Nikos Dendias and DepMin Ioannis Kefalogiannis attend the Opening Ceremony of the 6th Military Medicine Pan-European Regional Convention of the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM)

April 17, 2024

On Tuesday 16 April 2024, the Minister of National Defence, Mr Nikos Dendias and the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Ioannis Kefalogiannisattended the Opening Ceremony of the 6^thMilitary Medicine Pan-European Regional Convention of the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM), held at Zappeion Megaron.

The ceremony was also attended by Chief/HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, Chief/HNGS Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras ΗΝ, Chief/HAFGS Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Gregoriadis, Deputy Chief/HAGS Lieutenant General Andreas Koronakis, the MP of A District of Athens Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis, Chief/PORT POLICE-HELLENIC COAST GUARD Vice Admiral Port Police Georgios Alexandrakis, as well as representatives of other Security Forces.

During his address, Mr. Kefalogiannis pointed out that the important contribution of the Medical Corps in countering Covid-19 was another sample of the continuous contribution of the Armed Forces in every crucial sector to maintain social coherence, further reinforcing the unbroken relation of trust that they have developed with the citizens through time. At the same time, he pointed out that the presence in the Convention of Greek and foreign distinguished scientists, the active and big participation of the delegates with scientific projects, round tables, announcements and interactive presentations, show the zeal and the rich scientific interest of the Armed Forces Medical Corps, aiming at enriching knowledge and contributing to the global scientific community. The Deputy Minister of National Defence stressed that the Ministry of National Defence welcomes such initiatives and hopes for more, which will project even more the Military Medical Science at national and international level.

In his address, the Deputy Minister stated"

"With great pleasure and special honor, I welcome today, the beginning of the works of the 6^thMilitary Medicine Pan-European Local Convention, at a historical place like the Zappeion Mansion. Below Acropolis, in the country where democracy and dialogue were born, after the limitations and postponements caused by the world pandemic, an institution reappears as a multinational initiative of the armed forces medical staff, to become the springboard of exchanging current scientific knowledge, views and practices, future orientations and experiences as well, and furthermore to reinforce the cooperation of military medical staff and the cooperation between medical science and international medical organizations. In 1920, after WWII, when the need arose for a closer cooperation of the Armed Forces Medical Services, may be, nobody could imagine today's development of medical science. New, constantly developing technologies, medical methods and specializations, have turned medical science and medical services in a sector full of challenges and new scientific data, which require continuous updating in order not to be considered obsolete.

Besides, the current geostrategic environment is characterized by strong phenomena of liquidity, like the war conflicts, the medical crises and natural disasters, caused by climate change. So, the challenges that arise for the military medical staff of today, have been readjusted based on the existing conditions and require timely knowledge, flexibility, innovative ideas, active participation in the operations, monitoring of what happens worldwide, usage of the new forms of technology and group spirit. Besides, the recent medical crisis of Covid-19 tested the whole medical community, as well as the members of the Armed Forces Medical Corps worldwide. During this crisis, they proved without doubt, both at international and national level, their self-denial, endurance, adjustability and flexibility, giving their best, and proving that the Armed Forces and especially the Medical Corps are always ready to face even the most unexpected asymmetric threats, with professionalism, coherence, knowledge and scientific efficiency. The unprecenteded conditions were not an obstacle; they were a challenge for the Medical Corps to estimate its powers, to test its endurance and broaden its knowledge. The medical and nursing personnel of the Armed Forces was in the front line of the battle and by cooperating completely with the medical community, following world protocols and practices, often working to their human limits, contributed decisively in the successful countering of the invisible and unknown enemy that threatened the whole humanity.

The important contribution of the Medical Corps was another sample of the continuous contribution of the Armed Forces, worldwide, and especially of our country's Armed Forces, in every crucial sector for maintaining social coherence, a contribution that makes them a receiver of total reconnaissance, further reinforcing the unbroken relation of trust that they have developed with the citizens through time. The pandemic was greatly intercepted; a terrifying and uncontrolled threat was eliminated thanks to the coordinated efforts of the scientific community, thanks to the exchange of scientific knowledge, ideas and practices, surpassing the local limitations and the narrow borders of the countries, just like the expansion of the pandemic. So, this convention, surpassing the geographical limits, hopes to turn medical knowledge to world knowledge, relieving the military medical staff from restrictive, ideological and national barriers, surrounding military medicine with neutral and unaffected thinking and the global medical practice with the quality and transparency that the principles of bio-ethics dictate.

The honorary presence in the Convention of Greek and foreign distinguished scientists the active and big participation of the delegates with scientific projects, round tables, announcements and interactive presentations, as mentioned in the its analytical program, show the zeal. enthusiasm and therich scientific interest of the Armed Forces Medical Corps, aiming at improving and enriching knowledge and contributing to the global scientific community. The Ministry of National Defence welcomes such initiatives and hopes for many more, which will project even more the Military Medical Science at national and international level. I wish this Convention functions as a springboard of scientific dialogue, rich experience and observation, which will lead to a legacy of documented medical knowledge and practice. To become a spiritual platform for the improvement of the quality of medical care in the Armed Forces, the global community, the society, the human being.

Good Start and Success!"