The Scientific Workshop on the topic: “Early Diagnosis – Early Intervention in infants and children with visual disorders and additional disabilities” on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the Amphitheatre of the Technical Chamber of Greece/Division of Central Macedonia, organized by the Association of Parents & Guardians of Children with Visual Impairments. Friends of People with Visual Disorders and Additional Disabilities “SYZOI” and the Association of Freelance Pediatricians of Northern Greece.
The conference was honored with the presence and greeting of the Vice-Regional Head of Health & Social Solidarity ICU, Mrs. Melina Dermenzopoulou, the representative of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Public Health Advisor, Doctor Mr. Dimitris Skoutas and the President of the Administrative Committee of the Technical Chamber of Greece, Central Macedonia Section Mr. Elias Pertzinidis.
The event was also welcomed by the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Mrs. Sophia Zacharaki sending her own message, congratulating the Sizoe Association both for the initiative of organizing the conference and for the important course of its 18 years of operation, its contribution to the community, its active contribution to the social integration and well-being of people with visual impairments and additional disabilities. In this context, she also expressed her pleasure and satisfaction for the signing of the Joint Ministerial Decision with the Ministries of Education, Health, Finance and Digital Governance, for the implementation of the Early Childhood Intervention Pilot Programme for children aged zero (0) to six (6) years old, which is due to start in the second half of 2025.
The participants of the conference – doctors, therapists, mental health specialists, nurses, educators and parents, had the opportunity through the in-depth presentations of the speakers – scientists, to understand the importance of early intervention, as well as the early diagnosis and detection of possible developmental disorders in high-risk infants and at the same time were informed about the innovative interventions applied in the environment of Syzois and the holistic Early Childhood Intervention programme that has been implemented since 2006. In particular, through the presentations and the discussion between the public and scientists, issues such as the importance of early diagnosis in order to address potential developmental issues in the child’s life and epilepsy as a disease were highlighted, among others, the importance of distinguishing it, but also the need to destigmatize the child and the family, the importance of the functioning of the visual system for children and the importance of observing the first eye contact of the infant for the existence or not of the disorder, etc.α.
An important moment of the event was the moving presence/testimony of a parent of a child of Syzosis who has been participating in the Early Intervention Program of Syzosis for the last three years, who with passion, faith and hope for tomorrow, testified her experiences, declared herself safe and enthusiastically urged the public, experts and non-specialists to learn about the program.
The Board of Directors of Syzois thanks all those who participated and contributed to the successful organization of the conference and especially the Association of Freely Professional Pediatricians of Northern Greece, the Organizing and Scientific Committee of the conference and stresses that the promotion and dissemination of the scientific work of Syzois is directly related to its operation. Through the organization and participation in workshops and conferences, the continuous training of staff, the cooperation with institutions and networks, both in Greece and abroad, it aims at the continuous improvement of its services, the strengthening of its partnerships and the implementation of innovative educational and therapeutic programs for its beneficiaries.
The further interconnection with the scientific community, strengthens in many ways the effort to provide high quality services to the population it serves and is committed to similar events in the future.
Yours sincerely,
The Board of SYZOIS