First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre
The great vision of the “Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation”, the development of the Aswan Heart Centre into an outstanding medical institute, aiming at maintaining the health of the Egyptian population, and mainly of the most vulnerable social groups emphasising on children, is realised thanks to its many supporters.
The supporters of this vision, the “Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre”, are personalities of international prestige as well as businessmen, with the First Lady of Egypt, Mrs Suzanne Mubarak as a President and the leading cardiac surgeon, Sir Magdi Yacoub, as a Vice-President. Among those, there are also the UNESCO and Goodwill Ambassador, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, who participated in the first meeting of the “Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre”, the businessman Naguib Sawiris, President of Orascom, the famous actor Omar Sharif, and others.
Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, Sir Magdi Yacoub and Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis among the "Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre" and the members of Board of Trustees of the "Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation".
In the First Meeting of the “Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre”, that was held onΒ January 5th, 2010, their plan of action was extensively discussed with the first objective being the search for sponsors for the full and complete equipment and the model operation of the Centre Units, the education and specialisation of the nursing personnel, including doctors, scientists, nurses and technicians as well as the establishment and development of the scientific cardiology research centre which will focus in the characteristics of the local population.
As announced by the Ambassador, Dr Mohamed Shaker, President of the Board of Trustees of the “Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation”, up to May 2010, the Aswan Heart Centre which, at the moment, functions as a separate unit in the University Hospital of Aswan, will be transferred to the new building which is intensively being constructed in a large area of New Aswan, by the banks of the Nile, granted by the Egyptian state for this purpose.
(left to right) Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, Sir Magdi Yacoub, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and Omar Sharif.
Mrs Suzanne Mubarak and Sir Magdi Yacoub referred to the importance of such a Centre, which will cover a large void, in a period of time where the cardiac episodes are rapidly increasing; they spoke with enthusiasm and gratitude for the current response of the people, either well-known or anonymous, from all over the world, who were eager to contribute to the completion of this great work that will benefit not only the Egyptian population but also the wider region. “Some people, as they particularly said, offered money, allowing the Resource Management Committee of the Centre to spend them accordingly; some others undertook the educational expenses of one or more nurses, scientists, doctors and technicians; some others the expenses of one or more trainers, and some others the technological or equipment costs. For this reason, they concluded, we are now more optimistic than ever, that our vision is not far from its implementation, a fact which is not simply hopeful but a saviour for the Egyptian population”.
Mrs Mubarak also stressed that there is no time for delays. On the one hand the technology is rapidly advancing, on the other hand people’s needs in the health sector are multiplying, and therefore we need all those who can help us in order to join our forces. When we all work together, we can make our dreams true, she said closing her speech.
(left to right) Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, Sir Magdi Yacoub, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
In the discussion that followed between the members of the Friends and the Board of Trustees of the “Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation”, Mrs Vardinoyannis praised the work of Mrs Mubarak and the great effort of Sir Yacoub expressing her support for this initiative that constitutes an excellent example of social offer as it places science and technology at the service of health and the vulnerable social groups in an exemplary way. Egypt, she characteristically said, once again becomes a pioneer, this time in the creation of health infrastructures, the provision of high medical services and medical research, on the one hand, of having Mrs Mubarak’s work as a motive force and on the other hand Sir Magdi Yacoub as its soul who, with the know-how, his experience and sensitivity, has designed an exceptionally modern and complete medical centre provided to every social group of Egypt and specifically children.
- 2011
- UNESCO Heads of States Forum
- There is HOPE!
- Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"
- International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".
- Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.
- Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
- 2010
- Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
- The Global Forum against human trafficking.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.
- Makistos smiles again!
- 83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
- An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- International campaign supporting Greece.
- The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
- 2009
- Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.
- Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.
- Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference Β«Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the WorldΒ» and the Cairo Declaration.
- International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.
- Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
- 2008
- The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.
- Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.
- Universal call for the Climate Change.
- The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.
- The appeal of Ancient Olympia.
- The �Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies� in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
- 2007
- 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- The Chart of Paris against cancer.
- The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.
- Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.
- Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.
- International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.
- Global Humanitarian Forum.
- Makistos smiles again.
- 2006
- Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".
- Fundraising Dinner to support the �End Human Trafficking Now� global campaign.
- The "Athens Principles" in Davos.
- International Center for Peace Studies.
- Protecting youth from drugs.
- The Multicultural Children Centre �Athina� in Belgrade.
- 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
- 2005
- Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.
- The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.
- The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- 2004
- Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.
- International Conference �Women in the Service of Peace� in Paris.
- International Conference �Women defending Peace� in Geneva.
- 2003
- 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.
- Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.
- Exhibition �The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon�, at UNESCO.
- The Mentor Awards.
- Awards to mothers.
- 2002
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.
- Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.
- The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
- 2001
- The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
- 2000
- A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.
- The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.
- The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.
- 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.
- Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
- 1999
- By the side of mothers and children behind bars.
- Juvenile disappearance and abduction.
- The Hague Appeal for Peace.
- International Conference �Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century� in Paris.
- Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.
- By the side of the earthquake victims.
- International Conference �Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet�.
- 1998
- A three-point shot for a life.
- European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".
- Family and the mass media.
- Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
- 1997
- International Conference �Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe�.
- By the side of the children of Xanthi.
- Embracing children suffering from AIDS.
- The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.