Health ministry: Dramatic rise in prostitution, diseases amongst illegals in centre of Athens
13. July 2011. | 09:37
Source: ANA
A dramatic rise in prostitution by young and even under aged foreign women in central Athens and 10 other areas in Attica prefecture (the greater Athens area) has been recorded, along with an increase in an aggressive form of tuberculosis, STDs, AIDS and Hepatitis C and B, a relevant health ministry official warned on Tuesday.
A dramatic rise in prostitution by young and even under aged foreign women in central Athens and 10 other areas in Attica prefecture (the greater Athens area) has been recorded, along with an increase in an aggressive form of tuberculosis, STDs, AIDS and Hepatitis C and B, a relevant health ministry official warned on Tuesday.
The worsening developments were outlined by Health & Social Solidarity Deputy Minister Michalis Timosidis, who briefed members of a Parliamentary committee on migration. He noted that the ministry is stepping up cooperation with other ministries, agencies and international organisations to deal with the problem.
Timosidis said an important tool in efforts to deal with the problem was the "Street Work" Programme, launched by staff of Greece's National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO).
Timosidis explained that, under the programme, specialised staff was visiting downtown areas of the Greek capital frequented by illegal migrants.
He said the staff appeared to be earning the confidence of the mostly illegal migrants, as an increasing number are visiting the programmes to be informed on the health problems they face without fear of deportation. Thus KEELPNO, in collaboration with various NGOs, is recording the most frequent diseases and providing the initial health services to the migrants.
"Hundreds of drug addicts, and chiefly prostitutes of a young age, come out in the area of Omonia Square as soon as it starts to get dark, and this problem is a central issue for us," Timosidis said, adding that the ministry is also intensifying its cooperation with the City of Athens and the regional government in order to seek solutions.
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