11.06.2020.

Minister Vulin: Thank you for being there in the most difficult moments

The ceremony of presenting certificates of appreciation on the occasion of closing the temporary hospital at the Belgrade Fair was attended today by the Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilović, and the members of the Collegiums.

In Hall 1, where the largest Covid hospital in the Balkans worked until a few days ago, by the decision of the Minister of Defence, institutions and individuals were presented with certificates of appreciation of the Ministry of Defence for exceptional commitment and a great contribution in providing health care to the citizens of the Republic of Serbia.

Addressing the gathering of people who, as he pointed out, made all this possible, Minister Vulin thanked them on behalf of the President of the Republic of Serbia and the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, and on his own behalf.

- We have gathered today to thank each other and in order for me to thank these wonderful people on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, and all those who worked and fought against the pandemic. Here are health professionals, the members of the Ministry of Defence, Military Health Care, as well as the members of CBRN units, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, hygienists, all those who made sure the temporary hospital at the Fair would help hundreds of people - said the Minister of Defence, expressing gratitude to them for being there when it was hardest.

He pointed out that these people fought for patients’ lives, consciously putting their health at risk, and that they had to put up with numerous lies and insults, but they came to work every day, and put the interests of patients before themselves and their health.

- The state of Serbia can be proud of each of them. If we doubted how important and valuable it is to have people like these, now we see them and now we know why it was so brave, worthwhile, important and honourable to be together with them - said Minister Vulin, who thanked each of them.

The Head of the Military Healthcare Department, Major General Uglješa Jovičić, MD, pointed out that, at the beginning of March, when one of the most difficult challenges took place, extraordinary coordination between institutions became noticeable, and a temporary hospital was established.

- It did not look like any other before it. It was the largest, not only in terms of the number of available beds, but also in terms of the number of engaged individuals, institutions, and specialist services. Today we have gathered in that same building to symbolically thank everyone who contributed to the success of civil-military cooperation - said General Jovičić, adding that, along with more than 630 health professionals, numerous members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and various civil sectors responsible for the functioning of such a large facility, worked here every day.

Speaking about the functioning of the Belgrade Fair as a temporary Covid hospital, its coordinator, Colonel Veljko Milić, MD, pointed out that it was a great challenge for everyone.

- Such circumstances were unprecedented everywhere in the world. We had experience and established procedures, so we were able to get involved in the fight against coronavirus, and it was very important that many health professionals from civilian institutions also had their experiences, so we participated together in the successful care of patients at the Fair - confirmed Colonel Milić.

The Minister of Defence and the Head of the Military Healthcare Department presented certificates of appreciation to the Belgrade Fair, the Clinical Centre of Serbia, the Serbian Institute of Sport and Sports Medicine, the Institute for Health Care of the Ministry of Interior employees, the Institute for Student Health Care, the Institute for Health Care of “Serbian Railways" employees, the Institute for Psychophysiological Disorders and Speech Pathology "Prof. Dr Cvetko Brajović", the City Institute for Skin and Venereal Diseases, the City Institute for Lung Diseases and TB, the Special Hospital for Internal Diseases, Mladenovac, “Dr Simo Milošević”, "Čukarica”, “Savski venac", Rakovica, Zvezdara, Stari grad and Mladenovac Health Centres, as well as volunteers and health professionals.

After the presentation of awards, Minister Vulin and the Chief of the General Staff attended lunch with health professionals, volunteers and members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, served in the temporary Covid hospital at the Belgrade Fair.