19.04.2020.
Minister Vulin: On behalf of the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces – thank you, the First Brigade has held its ground
Today, the Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin visited the members of the First Brigade in the “Bačka” barracks in Bačka Topola.
During the visit, the commander of the First Army Brigade, Brigadier General Zoran Nasković briefed the Minister of Defence on the situation in Bačka Topola garrison, as well as on the engagement of the First Army Brigade in the prevention of the spread of Covid-19 disease.
Minister Vulin pointed out that the members of the First Brigade suffered the first and the most severe attack of the coronavirus when hundreds of thousands of our citizens returning from abroad passed by them, and they took upon themselves the task of securing majority of migrant camps.
- During all this time, they secured the most important health care institutions as well as social institutions, which we were ordered to guard and secure. Some of them got infected and what I can say with great pride, happiness and relief is that the vast majority of them are on the road to full recovery. In the Bačka Topola garrison alone, out of 169 tested, 168 of our members are negative, healthy and able to continue performing their duties. We pray for a member of the First Brigade who is on a respirator and whose condition is the most severe. Military and civilian health care professionals at the Clinical Centre in Novi Sad are doing their best to save him, and everything that medical science has to offer and do will be done to save him, too,” said Minister Vulin.
On behalf of the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, the Chief of the General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović and on his personal behalf, Minister Vulin thanked all the members of the Frist Brigade for their courage, perseverance, and for completing all their tasks.
- The First Brigade has held its ground – concluded Minister Vulin.
According to General Zoran Nasković, Commander of the First Brigade, this brigade performs all assigned tasks related to the prevention of Covid-19.
- We are currently engaged in securing closed border crossings, reception centres, nursing homes and health care facilities. In the previous period, we were engaged in setting up facilities for the reception and accommodation of our citizens returning from abroad in Morović, the Letenka facility on Fruška Gora and three facilities in Subotica. Together with the volunteers from the city of Novi Sad, we arranged and equipped two halls at the Novi Sad Fair with 1,000 beds and associated equipment, which the city provided - emphasized General Nasković.
While performing those tasks, a certain number of brigade members got infected with the coronavirus, he said.
- Some the members have already been cured and released for home treatment, and we hope that they will return to their regular tasks in the unit soon - General Nasković said.
During today’s visit Minister Vulin also spoke to the members of the medical section in the “Bačka” barracks.
