08.05.2020.

The Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland donates medical equipment

Today, the Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin, attended the ceremony of handing over the donation of medical equipment to prevent the spread of Covid-19, sent by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, at the “Karaburma” Military Medical Centre.

Thanking the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Belgrade, Sian Christina MacLeod, and the UK Defence Attaché to Serbia, Colonel Nik Ilić, Minister Vulin said that the donated resources, including the disinfection tunnel, would be of great help to our doctors and medical staff.

- We really need assistance. This is a disinfection tunnel that helps our doctors and nurses to stay healthy. This tunnel is one of the reasons why we do not have any infected health professionals in the "Karaburma"Military Medical Centre, regardless of the fact that our doctors work with the most severely ill patients. This tunnel is also a proof that Serbia is taken care of, and this is sincere and friendly assistance for which I am very grateful - said Minister Vulin.

The Minister of Defence pointed out that he was especially glad that the disinfection tunnel was installed in the hospital at the "Karaburma" Military Medical Centre, a product of domestic intelligence and manufacture.

- I am grateful on behalf of all the people who are being treated here and on behalf of all the health professionals who will stay healthy in this way and be able to continue to fight and work in these difficult times. Once again, I want to thank the Embassy and all those who help us so selflessly at this time when their countries are struggling as well - said Minister Vulin.

Apart from the disinfection tunnel, whose value is 944,000.00 dinars, the "Karaburma" Military Medical Centre has also been equipped with 14 refrigerators for storing medications, whose value is 217,680.54 dinars.

The message of the UK Ambassador, Sian Christina MacLeod, is that the donation of medical equipment is a sign of solidarity in the fight against coronavirus.
- Today we are celebrating Victory in Europe Day and we are fighting to overcome a mutual challenge together. I am glad that we can work together against the coronavirus. This is a small sign of solidarity. We are here to donate a disinfection tunnel to the Ministry of Defence. We have also donated pharmaceutical refrigerators and visors. It is a small sign of solidarity. We have to work together - said Ambassador McLeod.

The UK Defence Attaché to Belgrade, Colonel Nik Ilić, says that the donation is "modest, but significant".

- This is a symbolic day when we are side by side with the Serbian Armed Forces. We were allies in the First and Second World Wars, and we are allies once again in this fight. I would like to emphasize that the Serbian Armed Forces did not ask for assistance. We provided them with assistance - Colonel Ilić points out and adds that due to the coronavirus pandemic, the usual bilateral cooperation between the two countries has stopped, but the support his country has given us today will be useful even after the pandemic.

- When the crisis is over, the donation will certainly be used either in this hospital or in some other. This is a significant, but modest donation, which is a symbol of cooperation between the two friendly countries, which will continue in the future - said Colonel Ilić.

The donation handover ceremony was also attended by the Acting Assistant for Defence Policy, Milan Ranković, the Head of the Military Healthcare Department, Brigadier General Uglješa Jovičić, and the Head of the Military Medical Academy, Colonel Miroslav Vukosavljević.