DYNAMIC PHASE OF SELF-MANAGEMENT IS NEW STAGE IN SAE'S MEDICAL RELIEF PROGRAM

The Medical Health Care Initiative is now a self-managed program by World SAE staff supervising field staff who previously operated under the direction of non-governmental organizations retained by SAE. At one of the training sessions in Thessaloniki are (from left) Dr. Natalie Radchenko, medical director in Mariupol, Ukraine; Alexandra Prochenko, president of the federation in Mariupol; Kyriakos Iordanidis, president of the federation in Tbilisi, Georgia; Evan Kakis, World SAE financial officer; Cynthia Yannias, medical program director; Dr. Charles Kanakis, SAE medical affairs director; Andrew A. Athens, SAE president and founder of the medical initiative; Cos Georganas, SAE treasurer; Dr. Roland Stamatov, medical director suspervising Georgia, Ukraine and Armenia; Alina Papanidi, dministrator in Tbilisi; and two interpreters.

THESSALONIKI February 12, 2003 --President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, Andrew A. Athens, announced today that SAE's Medical Relief Initiative in the Black Sea area countries enters a new phase through a program of self-management.

"Five years after the beginning of the Medical Relief Program, SAE is now in a position to manage the entire program without the need to retain other NGOs to help oversee the program's field operations," Mr. Athens said. "During our first phase, we counted on other organizations such as Counterpart Inc. and IRD, which were very experienced and had an extensive network in the countries of SAE's programs.

"Through self-management we will save up to $250,000 annually, an amount that will be used for the needs of the patients. We have the power to move forward ourselves, relying on our experienced and dedicated staff," Mr. Athens added.

Mr. Athens, Dr. Charles Kanakis, medical director of SAE, and Cynthia Yiannas, program director at the President's Office, led training seminars during a three-day visit this week in Thessaloniki. Dr. Roland Stamatov, Director of SAE's medical center in Tbilisi, accepted the position of General Medical Director for the program in the countries of Georgia, Ukraine, and Armenia.