| 4. In which ways is the initiative creative and innovative?
|
|
According to the evaluation documents of the Prefecture and later Region of Crete, in terms of implementation steps for the Mobile Mammography Unit, the first one was to procure a van and the necessary medical equipment (year 2007). Then, the van was transformed into a mobile mammography unit and medical devices and instruments were safely placed on it (April 2008). At the same time, the appropriate licenses were by the qualified Ministry of Health. Finally, the appropriate personnel was employed and the unit was finally set in operation (August 2008). A Similar procedure was followed for the implementation of the Mobile Preventive Dentistry Unit, until it could become fully operational in March 2010. The strategy was one: to reach every corner of the large island region, mountainous, faraway areas, as well as smaller islands at the edge of Europe.
|
|
| 5. Who implemented the initiative and what is the size of the population affected by this initiative?
|
|
For the Mobile Mammography Unit, the Region of Crete collaborates closely with Hospitals, Health Centers, Municipalities, Cultural Associations and NGOs throughout Crete.
For the Mobile Dentistry Unit for children, the Region of Crete collaborates closely with Dentists’ Associations, the Directorate of Primary Education and schools throughout the whole region.
Without these stakeholders, without these collaborations, such projects of extreme importance to our areas would not have been possible and successful.
|
| 6. How was the strategy implemented and what resources were mobilized?
|
|
Both Mobile Units rely a great deal on volunteering. Other costs such as petrol, medicine equipment, cleaning etc. are provided by own resources, of the Region of Crete, which makes it even more significant during times of economic burdens.
Doctors volunteer at the Venizeleio hospital to diagnose the mammography tests. Similarly, dentists from the Dentists’ Association volunteer to take part in the school visits. Mobilization and participation of these doctors and of everyone else that contributes to the successful management and operation of these unique projects is achieved through information provided by the Region of Crete, through public awareness, and then from the increase of the sense and motivation of volunteering.
|
|
| 7. Who were the stakeholders involved in the design of the initiative and in its implementation?
|
|
According to assessments of the Region of Crete,
A) From the mammography tests on the Mobile Unit, results have shown that:
50% of women have had a mammography test for the first time and were informed of the prevention of breast cancer
30% of women were asked to take additional tests
10% of women were asked to proceed to biopsy testing
One output that contributed to the success of this initiative was is in the fact that half of the women who were never informed about preventive medicine and had never done a mammography test, now have done so, and there are many more to examine and inform.
A second one was that certain women had biopsy test and have been treated from the diagnosis that took place.
B) From the dental tests of the Mobile Unit, results show that:
44% of children have decay
27% brush their teeth once per day
28% have never visited the dentist
In parallel with the general dental examination provided by this Mobile Unit, the young volunteer dentists have given important advice to the children, and we have distributed relevant booklets addressed to children and to their parents, providing essential information on dental hygiene, on healthy diet, as well as a concise presentation of the results of the dental examination of each child. So a third output that contributed to the success here is in the fact that children are beginning to understand about dental hygiene, general hygiene and healthy diet, from a young age, and a fourth one is that their parents are being informed too as awareness is being raised to them as well.
Improving delivery of preventive medicine services through innovation, by creating and functioning of these 2 Mobile Units serving women and children throughout the region of Crete, has been a success for this public entity. And thus, a fifth output that contributed to the success of the preventive medicine project is that it has brought organizations, NGOs and associations together, to collectively give their efforts to the needs of citizens, bringing services closer to them, especially to the ones in greater need and to citizens living in mountainous and faraway regions.
Such projects should be promoted in other regions as well as they are a good practice for other public entities to follow.
This project needs to be encouraged to continue.
|
|
| 8. What were the most successful outputs and why was the initiative effective?
|
|
The Region of Crete has concrete data from all the projects since the beginning, from assessment and evaluation reports made public.
All doctors and volunteers have statistic tables that they fill in after each visit, after each examination.
Every term there is an evaluation from the monitoring of the preventive medicine project.
Consultations also take place with regard to constantly developing partnerships and the overall strategy.
|
|
| 9. What were the main obstacles encountered and how were they overcome?
|
|
The policy officers of the Region of Crete point out that the main obstacles encountered were the search of financial resources (which in the end where provided by the regional public entity’s own budget), the transformation of the vans into secure vehicles (especially for the Mobile Mammography Unit taking into account the complexities of incorporating instruments with radiation – which was overrun with the help of the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”), and, the engagement of specialized personnel (which was overcome with the assistance, cooperation and voluntary offer of Hospitals and the Dentists Associations in the whole region).
|