Εθνικός Οργανισμός Δημόσιας Υγείας (Hellenic National Public Health Organization – EODY)

Contact person

Kassiani Mellou

Tel. +30 210 8899 007 / +306974438453

 

Description of the Institute

The Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY) is responsible for surveillance and control of infectious diseases in Greece. It functions under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, and works in close collaboration with the local public health authorities. It was established in 1992 with the aim to develop activities on HIV/AIDS. In 1998, the Hellenic Centre for Surveillance and Intervention (EKEPAP) was established within KEEL with the aim to undertake public health surveillance and outbreak investigation activities. In 2001, EKEPAP was incorporated in KEEL as its Department of Surveillance and Intervention. Finally, in 2005, KEEL was renamed to KEELPNO and in 2019 KEEPNO was re-organised and renamed to EODY responsible for control and prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases in the country.

EODY covers a wide range of activities in the area of surveillance and intervention, hospital-acquired infections, public health support of immigrants, refugees and other minority groups, research, travel medicine consultation and guidelines issuing.

The Directorate of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention for Infectious Diseases which is the training site for EPIET/EUPHEM consists of

• Airborne Diseases Unit
• Vaccine-preventable and Congenital Diseases Unit
• Foodborne and waterborne Diseases Unit
• Zoonoses Unit
• Vector-borne Diseases Unit
• Coordination of Surveillance Systems Unit
• Antimicrobial Resistance Unit
• Co-ordination Centre for Blood Safety

The main activities of the directorate regard surveillance of communicable diseases and investigation of sporadic cases and outbreaks all over the country in close collaboration with local health authorities. Surveillance is based on the mandatory notification system, the system of laboratory reporting, the sentinel surveillance systems and several specialised laboratory networks.

Training opportunities

Selected trainees will be based at the Directorate of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention for Infectious Diseases of EODY in Athens. The department has about 25 people in its staff (epidemiologists, infectious diseases specialists, microbiologists, health inspectors, and administrative staff). The trainees will be integrated in the activities of the directorate, which include running, evaluating and setting up surveillance systems, outbreak investigations, and specific research projects.

Training supervision

Trainees will be supervised by senior epidemiologists, and will closely collaborate with all the scientists of the Directorate of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention of EODY.

Language requirements

Most of the people working at the directorate can communicate well in English and some also in French, Spanish, Italian or other languages.

Training history

Number of EPIET graduates working at the institute: Three

Number of hosted MS-Track fellows at the institute: Five

Number of hosted EU-Track fellows at the institute: One