Preveza: Medical tests are good for three children removed from their father by prosecutor’s order

The medical examinations of three children removed from their father in the village of Zervo, in the Municipality of Ziros, were described as “very good” by Maria Tsolaki, president of the Epirus Regional Social Welfare Center.

The two boys, aged 13 and 7, and their 8-year-old sister have been at Preveza Hospital since Tuesday, Sept. 1, following a prosecutor’s order. Their mother has left the home, while their father works as a livestock farmer. Tsolaki disputed reports of abuse or malnutrition, saying the evidence so far points instead to neglect connected to the family’s economic and social difficulties.

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Very good.

She said the case did not appear to involve an abusive parent, but a family facing serious problems and needing support. The father has taken responsibility for caring for the children and is working to meet their needs. “We are not dealing with an abusive parent, but with a man who needs support,” Tsolaki said.

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We are not dealing with an abusive parent, but with a man who needs support.

Tsolaki explained that municipal social services conduct the initial inquiry when concerns arise about children’s living conditions. The responsible prosecutor makes the final decision on removing a child from the family. Placement in a child-protection facility should be the last option, she said. Authorities should first examine whether a child can remain with the other parent or a relative, or enter foster care.

She also called for specialized juvenile prosecutors in the region, including in Ioannina, and for closer coordination between social, prosecutorial and health services. Her emphasis was on prevention and early intervention, with the state supporting families in their own homes whenever that is possible and safe for the children, before problems escalate.

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The focus should be on prevention.