UN helps Montenegro to develop National Response Plan

Montenegro needs more than 59 million EUR for addressing effects of coronavirus outbreak – says National Response and Preparedness Plan for the Coronavirus Pandemic, presented at the meeting of National Coordinating Body for COVID-19 with ambassadors in Montenegro.

Comprehensive document estimates Montenegro's quarterly needs in 10 key categories: from urgent responses to a number of urgent socio-economic challenges.

Chair of the National Coordinating Body for Infectious Diseases Milutin Simovic said that Montenegro is entering a critical phase, as the epidemic is expected to peak next week.

“In this fight, we need help and understanding in the short term. Our actions today will save lives in the coming weeks. We have no time to delay, and this is clearly demonstrated by examples of friendly European countries experiencing one of the most dramatic moments in their history. Adequate answers need to be found as soon as possible. And that's where we need your help."

Milutin Simovic, Chair of the National Coordinating Body for Infectious Diseases

Mr Simovic said that other countries in the region also need assistance, adding that the conferece in the best opportunity for participants to share with their countries the experiences of this approach, believing that joint regional initiatives could be created soon.

Fiona McCluney, UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro, reminded that right upon the outbreak of the pandemic, UN team in Montenegro swiftly mobilized resources and expertise to help the Government country in strategic planning and crisis communications.

“At the same time, UN agencies directed consolidated support towards equipping the quarantine centres, delivering medical equipment and taking care of the most vulnerable – beneficiaries of social assistance, refugees, migrants and asylum seekers”

Fiona McCluney, UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro

Head of the WHO Office in Montenegro, Mina Brajović quoted UN Secretary General calling for global solidarity in addressing the Covid-19 outbreak as one of the biggest threats for the global public health in 21st century.

“The approach of Montenegro, where public health professionals and epidemiologists are at the forefront of Government’s response, is well recognized and praised throughout the Europe region”

Mina Brajović, Head of the WHO Office in Montenegro

Head of the National Coordination Body expressed Government’s  gratitude for the assistance of the World Health Organization and United Nations in development of the National Response and Preparedness Plan which enabled access to Global Fund but also serves as an instrument for coordinating all our international partners to support our national efforts to respond to the pandemic. “In that sense, we already have daily communication with WHO. The European Commission support has also been provided as a part of the emergency measures, with their comprehensive support package being prepared. Both NATO and EU emergency mechanisms have also been initiated,” Simovic said.

The National Response and Preparedness Plan recognizes number of challenges that need to be addressed, including: prevention and control of infection, surveillance and investigation of cases and case management, national laboratories and border crossings. Accordingly, the key expenditures foreseen in the document are case management and socio-economic aspects, accounting for just over two-thirds of the funds foreseen, as well as logistics and procurement and equipping of border crossings, for which almost EUR 15 million is foreseen. According to the identified challenges, critical goals have been defined by the document: effective crisis management, limiting transmission from person to person, including reducing secondary infections among close contacts and healthcare professionals, and mitigating the impact in the country if significant community-wide transmission of infection occurs.