The translation of the National Prevention Program "Prevent" into a permanent national policy, the results of the free preventive examinations, the serious problem of childhood and teenage obesity in our country, as well as its confrontation with Paul Polakis, was mentioned by the Deputy Minister of Health, Irini Agamidakis, speaking on Thursday night on Nikos Hatzinikolaou's show "Face Face" on ANT1.

Mrs.Agamidaki spoke extensively about childhood obesity, adult obesity and health ministry programs, linking the issue to her own personal experience. As she said, as a child she had reached "108 kg", describing obesity as a disease with which she learned to live throughout her life. "I live with obesity my whole life and I say it because you never forget it. I always have to be careful," he said.

The Deputy Health Minister noted that Greece has a serious problem in both adults and children. "You understand that we are also champions in childhood obesity, negative champions. Both adults and children. We have a big problem in our country. We have abandoned all these beautiful Mediterranean diets and have become like most Western countries: sedentary life, obesity, etc.," he said.

Especially for children and adolescents, he stressed that the problem occurs from very young ages and already has health implications. "Yes, and we had too many children in puberty with such issues and many children in kindergarten. We also have children who are in V and VI and suffer from hypertension due to obesity," he said, noting that the problem for years was "under the carpet".

According to her, the Ministry of Health created local networks throughout the country, with the participation of municipalities, universities and other bodies, while entering schools with free sport, activities and nutritional counseling. "We shared over a hundred thousand free healthy meals across the country. Two thousand families with children who had obesity now have normal weight. And children who had increased cholesterol and hypertension problems have come back," he noted.

Mrs.Agamidaki also referred to obesity medications, stressing that they have high efficiency, but cannot be treated as an easy solution for simple weight loss. "Fascistness is a disease. I say this again," he said, pointing out that treatment should be administered by medical evaluation and monitoring, while proper nutrition and exercise are necessary to avoid reducing muscle mass and avoid serious effects.

For Paul PolakisThe Deputy Minister of Health also responded to Paul Polakis' complaints about health ministry programmes, cooperation with UNICEF and "Prevent". "Mr. Polakis, some time ago—and the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiades— accused us of doing trafficking, did not do a relocation program. They brought into the House a slander, the absolute disgrace, that the country did not make a relocation program, did trafficking with money from the European Union," he said, adding that Mr. Polakis "is claiming the fatherhood of Syriza" and found reason to attack her.

Mrs.Agamidakis argued that there is a double approval of the Court of Auditors for cooperation with UNICEF and for related expenditure. "I have twice the approval of the Court of Auditors and of working with UNICEF. That is, the country's highest court, the Court of Auditors, told the Health Ministry that you are doing well and contributing to UNICEF on this issue," he said.

Asked if he would come to Parliament if Mr. Polakis asked a question, he replied: "With pleasure. It doesn't give me the chance, Mr. Hatzinikolau. He only asks for written answers. It doesn't give me a chance to go to Parliament and answer it. I hope so. I'd love to. I say this very honestly, because this is all, you know, inappropriate and then unacceptable. Excuse me. No one will play with my honor and reputation.".

The deputy minister linked the intensity of criticism to the work that, she said, has been produced in the ministry. "It bothers one thing and I understand it. I'm producing a play, Mr. Hatzinikolaou. When the work is tangible, one cannot question that they have taken 6 million Greek exams. One cannot question that 275 thousand people have been spotted in time with findings," he said, concluding that he will not follow this "downhill" and that he leaves Mr. Polakis "in the mockery of the world".

For the programme ‘Preventing’Mrs.Agamidaki stressed that "Prevent" continues and goes through the framework of the Recovery Fund in a stable national policy. “Thanks to the very important initiative taken by the Prime Minister, Mr. Hatzinikolaou, 10 days ago, if I recall correctly, he announced that “I am continuing”. A recovery fund programme becomes a national policy," he noted, noting that its continuation has been secured by national resources.

As he said, this is an expensive but strategically critical public health programme. "Look, it's an expensive program, but we also made a strategic investment. We drew the funds from the Recovery Fund to develop the “Prevent” system. You know, when you set something up for the first time, it doesn't cost the same to keep it going. It is a high budget of 300 million. We have secured this money from national resources, because health cannot depend on everyone's wallet," he stressed.

The Deputy Minister of Health described the programme as one of the most well-designed prevention programmes in the European Union, highlighting the country's international discrimination. ‘The ‘Prevent’ programme is one of the most well designed prevention programmes in the European Union. I am not saying that, the European Union says so. The country has been awarded both by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, both for this and for our efforts in the field of childhood obesity," he said.

The thrill for Ahmet in Evros

The Deputy Minister of Health was touched to see the report of the show, to which Mr. Ahmet also spoke. He described how his life changed when Mrs. Agaidaki led him to an exam, from which he was found to be suffering from a serious cardiovascular disease.

"If it wasn't for her, I might not be today. When he came to the village, he shone the whole village. And the whole world loved her. Thank you very much. Be well and always shine like this. Always be in front of the world, as it came for us," said Mr. Ahmet.

After the end of the story, Mrs.Agalidakis spoke visibly moved about her relationship with Mr. Ahmet. "It's not easy for me to know why Ahmed and I are having a love relationship anymore. Mr. Hatzinikolaou, politics is a great job," Irini Agamidaki said.