01.10.2021.
Minister Stefanović visits “Karaburma” Military Covid Hospital
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, visited today the "Karaburma" Military Covid Hospital, where he talked to doctors and medical staff and once again called on the citizens to get vaccinated. The "Karaburma" Military Covid Hospital has been working continuously with serious and critical Covid-19 cases since March 6 last year, and currently, 117 patients are being treated there.
- I came today to the "Karaburma" Military Covid Hospital, first of all to thank Dr. Udovičić, Dr. Tausan and Dr. Anđelković, the Head of the Military Health Department, and the whole team of nurses, technicians and doctors, for their great work. Unfortunately, this is a long process and they have been working hard for months, during several waves - said Minister Stefanović.The Minister of Defence noted that the "Karaburma" Military Hospital is a place where patients with the most severe Covid-19 symptoms come and receive the best possible treatment, because members of the military health fight bravely for the life of every patient.
- It is worrying that the "Karaburma" Military Hospital is already filled to capacity, and most of the serious Covid-19 patients, and there are no more moderate cases here, are not vaccinated. These are people under the age of 50, who are not suffering from associated diseases, relatively young people whose doctors are practically fighting for their lives. They have double pneumonia, they feel serious effects of Covid-19 and their clinical presentation indicates that this variant of the coronavirus is very severe and dangerous - Minister Stefanović said.
Minister Stefanović once again called on all those who have not yet received a vaccine, to do so.
- Vaccines provided by our country are adequate protection. People who have received the vaccine also get sick, but their clinical presentation is mild and these people leave hospitals in a relatively short time and return to their normal lives. People must understand that this is not something that will happen to someone else, it can happen to anyone, even younger people can transmit the disease to the elderly, whose treatment requires much more care and attention and who are at a much greater risk - said Stefanović.
Speaking about medical workers, the Minister notes that these are the people who fight for people's lives every day, in all hospitals throughout Serbia, who do not sleep, who are separated from their families, being the first line of defence. - Think about them too, because their strength is not unlimited, even though they examine tens and hundreds of patients every day, talk to them, treat them, take care of them and nurture them. As Dr. Udovičić said, in this hospital alone, almost half of the patients are practically immobile, bedridden, either due to oxygen support or other reasons, and these people need attention throughout the day. Imagine how much energy and strength nurses and technicians and doctors need to take care of all of them, to bring some comfort to them and to fight for their lives - Minister Stefanović said.
Another way to show them our gratitude is to get vaccinated, he said.
- Only a mass immunization can guarantee that there will be no new severe variants, that people will not get sick all the time, that there will be no new waves - said Stefanović. He also pleaded with everyone to understand that these are not conspiracy theories or nonsense.
- Just look at the fact that most of our doctors have already been vaccinated. People have started receiving the third dose, too. The qualified, knowledgeable people, who are medical professionals, have opted for the vaccine. They would not opt for the vaccine if there was any serious risk. After all, figures say that the mortality rate in people who have not been vaccinated is 11 times higher. It is not 11 percent, which would be huge, but 11 times higher than that, which clearly shows how big a risk you are facing if you do not get vaccinated. This is a strong plea to the citizens – let’s help our country go back to normal life as soon as possible – Minister Stefanović concluded.
During the visit, Minister Stefanović talked to military medics about the challenges of fighting the Covid-19 virus this year and last year.
The Minister was accompanied on the visit by the Acting Head of the Military Health Department, Colonel Dr. Radivoje Anđelković, the Commander of the "Karaburma" Military Covid Hospital, Colonel Dr. Ivo Udovičić, and his deputy, Colonel Dr. Đorđe Tausan.
