02.03.2021.
Military Medical Academy Day marked
Ceremony to mark the 177th anniversary of the Military Medical Academy was held today at the MMA.
Congratulating this military medical, educational and research institution on its anniversary on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD and on his own behalf, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Branko Živanović pointed out that the MMA proudly keeps alive the long, great tradition that reminds us of the huge efforts expended by medical professionals in the hardest of times for Serbia and its citizens, in wars and hardships, but behind which freedom always shone as well as time of prosperity which is reflected in today’s Military Medical Academy.
– We understand the true magnitude of commitment to the military and medical professions only when we discover and see the strength of a military, of its health system and the support from those people from whom we expect support, but also from those who surprise us by displaying courage in critical moments. This is exactly what we have been witnessing for a year now. Providing help and support to every patient and readiness to do everything to save human life, regardless of the time of day or night, remind us of the most valuable things in life - morality, love, friendship and sacrifice. When a person’s health is damaged, they need to know that someone is taking care of them. You instil extra strength in people and reassure them again and again of your capability, readiness and commitment to never fail them – State Secretary Živanović said.According to him, the work of Dr. Vladan Đorđević has been clearly reflected in the life and work of all technicians and doctors in military health over the past year.
– The results and the total number of medical checkups and procedures performed in our military health institutions are evidence of that. Although the epidemic has slowed us down a bit, it did not affect the performance of military health – on the contrary. In addition to the daily hard work of all military medics and non-medical staff, which deserves the highest commendation, we are proud of how efficiently Covid hospitals were set up and built. We have ensured timely investment in modern diagnostics, and in addition, thinking about the future, we have employed a large number of new staff. We are proud of the fact that immunization of members of the defence system is proceeding according to Serbia’s Covid-19 immunization plan. Our message is clear – every member of the military health service approaches the tasks set before them conscientiously and responsibly and that will always be so – State Secretary Živanović emphasized and added that members of the military health care stood before their fellow-citizens with clean conscience, because they had confirmed that they were there for everyone who needed help. He also said that the Ministry of Defence was firmly committed to further improve the financial status of all members.
Head of the Military Medical Academy, Colonel Prof. Miroslav Vukosavljević spoke about the results of Serbia’s largest military health institution over the past year. According to him, the Military Medical Academy has faced numerous challenges throughout its long history, but the past year "will remain inscribed in history as the year when the whole world stopped for a moment."– At the same time, we accepted the fact that the world was no longer the same place and bravely continued fighting for the health of all our patients, our loved ones, and ultimately ourselves. Looking back, the year has passed very quickly, but it taught us a lot. We have been witnesses to the fact that without uniting forces in a crisis situation, which we are, unfortunately, still facing, there can be no good results. MMA medics have justified the trust of citizens for 177 years. Just like our predecessors, we have always been in those places where the situation was the most difficult - said Colonel Vukosavljević.
He pointed out that over the past year, more than 92,000 citizens were given the necessary medical attention at the MMA Emergency Centre, and that more than 30,000 citizens were admitted for hospital treatment.
– More than 140,000 military and civilian patients were examined at the MMA Polyclinic, and considering that the number of medical and non-medical staff was significantly reduced, we managed to deal with all injuries and perform more than 15,000 surgeries, many of which were the most complicated cases at the time of Covid crisis. Vukosavljević expressed his belief that the Military Medical Academy would continue to be a military health institution that the people trusted, that they were proud of and whose successes in all professional and scientific domains were well-known beyond the borders of our country.
On the occasion of the MMA Day, the best organizational unit in the past year was traditionally pronounced. The title went to the Clinic for General Surgery and the Institute of Epidemiology, and the Deputy Head of the Clinic, Prof. Darko Mirković and the Head of the Institute, Colonel Prof. Srđan Lazić, were presented with awards by State Secretary Živanović.The MMA has traditionally awarded the medal named after Dr. Vladan Đorđević, a great Serbian surgeon, for years. This year's prestigious award winners are retired Colonel Prof. Tomislav Marenović, and the director of the Clinical Hospital Centre “Dr. Dragiša Mišović - Dedinje” Prof. Vladimir Đukić. They were presented with the medals by the Head of the MMA Surgical Clinics Group, Lieutenant Colonel Prof. Boban Đorđević.
In the artistic part of the program, vocal soloist Danica Krstić and a part of the MoD’s Artistic Ensamble “Stanislav Binički“ performed.
MMA Day is marked in memory of 2 March 1844, when Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević signed a decree proclaiming the "Law on the Establishment of the Central Army Hospital", and on that day the first military hospital in Belgrade was founded, whose tradition is continued by the MMA.
