Hellenic Center for Infectious Diseases Control (KEEL)
Contact details
Takis PanagiotopoulosHellenic Centre for Infectious Diseases Control
Makedonias 6-8
10433 Athens, Greece
Tel +30 210 8899 000
Fax +30 210 8818 868
Description of the Institute
The Hellenic Centre for Infectious Diseases Control (KEEL) is an independent centre responsible for surveillance and control of infectious diseases in Greece, situated in the centre of Athens. It functions under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, and in close collaboration with all public health authorities. Its president and board of directors are appointed by the Minister of Health. 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.KEEL is responsible for a wide range of activities. One of the core activities of KEEL is work on HIV/AIDS, which includes supporting specialist clinical infectious disease departments and reference laboratrories situated in hospitals and universities, provision of medicines to patients, psychosocial support, epidemiolgy, and health education. KEEL has developed activities in the area of public health support for immigrants, refugees and other minority groups, nosocomial infection research and control measures, travel medicine consultation and issuing of guidelines.
KEEL is responsible for public health surveillance in Greece, which is carried out through the activities of the Department of Surveillance and Intervention. Surveillance is based on the mandatory notification system, the system of laboratory reporting, the sentinel surveillance systems and several specialised laboratory networks. Over the past few years a major reorganisation of the surveillance system in Greece has been undertaken, and a lot of experience has been gained from organising enhanced surveillance for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. KEEL is also involved in outbreak investigations in close collaboration with local health authorities.
Training opportunities
The trainee will be based at the Department of Surveillance and Intervention of KEEL. The Department has about 25 people staff (physicians, nurses and health visitors, health inspectors, statisticians, administrative staff). The trainee will be integrated in the activities of the Department, which include running, evaluating and setting up surveillance systems, outbreak investigations, specific research projects.Training supervision
The trainee will be supervised in his or her work by senior epidemiologist(s), and will collaborate closely with all the scientists of the Department of Surveillance and Intervention of KEEL.Language requirements
Most people in the Department can communicate well in English and some people also in French or other languages. Nevertheless, a good comprehension and speaking ability of the (modern) Greek language is necessary for the trainee to operate effectively in surveillance activities and outbreak investigations.Training history
Number of EPIET Fellows trained at institute: noneAvailable as a training site for cohort 12: no