Aristotle 2024–2025

Project Duration 2024 - 2025
Location Promitheas Community Hub, located at 42–44 Favierou Street, in Metaxourgeio
Hours The program operates daily (Monday to Friday) from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The “ARISTOTLE 2024–2025” program aims to reduce the transmission of Hepatitis C and HIV, increase diagnosis rates, and ensure linkage to care and treatment for people who use psychoactive substances (PWUD) in Athens. This population is particularly vulnerable, with high rates of homelessness and unemployment, and faces significant barriers to accessing healthcare. The program focuses on community-based prevention and therapeutic support interventions.

Comprehensive healthcare services are provided in the field, following a proven effective methodology:

Engagement of high-risk PWUD through the Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) method, involving and activating members of the community themselves.
Screening for HIV and HCV at a specialized facility in central Athens.
Referral and linkage to care through clinics of the National Health System (NHS) for further treatment initiation.
Evaluation of program effectiveness and mapping of the care cascade for HIV and HCV in the target population.

Expected Outcomes:

Increased early diagnosis of HIV and HCV among PWUD.
Improved linkage and referral to care and treatment.
Empowerment of PWUD through their participation in outreach (peer-driven approach).
Systematic documentation of needs and access barriers for the population.
Reduction of virus transmission among one of the key populations critical to ending the epidemics.

The program operates daily (Monday to Friday) from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Prometheus Community Hub, located at 42–44 Favierou Street, in Metaxourgeio.

Scientific Team:

Vana Sypsa, Professor of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, NKUA
George Papastergiou, Professor of Internal Medicine – Gastroenterology, NKUA
Mina Psychogyiou, Professor of Infectious Diseases, NKUA
George Kalamitsis, President of the Hellenic Liver Patient Association “Prometheus”
Sotiris Roussos, Biostatistician PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, NKUA
Apostolos Beloukas, Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Virology, University of West Attica
Angelos Hatzakis, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, NKUA