Health Care

     
      In order to rebuild her physical and spiritual structures, the Church is also undertaking important work in other areas, such as health care.  Understanding this and remembering Jesus' injunction to care for the sick, Archbishop Anastasios initiated the opening of the first Orthodox clinic, named St. Luke's Clinic, in 1994.  In 1999, the St. Luke's was closed and replaced by the Annunciation Orthodox Diagnostic Center.  This impressive, six story structure is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipments. 

     The Annunciation Orthodox Diagnostic Center, staffed with some of Albania's most renowned doctors, administers health care to more than 6000 patients each month regardless of religious affiliation.  The Center also offers some of the most contemporary health services, such as the new ultra-modern medical scanner (the second such in the Balkans). The Center also operates a same-day surgery unit.

   Furthermore on Saturday, March 18, 2006, with Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and all Albania presiding over the initiation of the scanner in the presence of the Minister of Health, Mr. M. Cikuli; the Minister of Labor, Mr. K. Barka ect.    This scanner (General Electric, Light Speed Pro32) is a spiral type, multi-detector with 32 cuttings in one rotation.  It is characterized by high speed scanning which may be used for conventional and circulatory examinations.

     Because of the high speed with which it performs the examinations, it can complete a scan of the thorax and abdomen with only a single breath inhalation. Heart scanning can be performed in 12-15 seconds. The scanner achieves high resolutions and can create high-quality 3-dimensional images in a short period of time. The scanner will be operated by professionals who were specially trained outside of Albania.

                                                                         

    Medical clinics exist also in Kavaja, Lushnja, and Korça, as well as the village of Jergucat.  A mobile dental clinic provides dental care in villages.

After the falling of communism regime many doctors working in the rural areas came back in the cities living these areas without health care. “Service of Love” (Diakonia Agapes) for along now is contributing in the increasing of midwives and nurse’s role offering those training projects and assistance. In addition, the book, "Where there is no Doctor," which gives the helpful information on how to identify and treat many common illnesses and disorders, was translated into Albanian and is being distributed in rural areas. 

Update: February 2008