WHO donation worth over half a million EUR

The World Health Organization donated to Montenegro protective and medical equipment, including diagnostic equipment and supplies wort over 539,000 EUR.

Presenting this valuable donation, the head of the Office of the World Health Organization in Montenegro, Mina Brajović, expressed hope that the donated equipment will primarily benefit health workers, as she said - "heroes in white" who have been on the front line of fighting the invisible enemy for all these months, in order to protect health and lives of all citizens.

Emphasizing that the WHO donated modern diagnostic equipment and significant amounts of reagents, Brajović reminded that strengthening the diagnostic capacity is necessary to break the transmission chain, "because only when we know where the virus is, we can define targeted and effective measures to control the infection."

The WHO also donated three off-road vehicles, as well as 52 mobile computers for epidemiologists as a form of surveillance support in all parts of Montenegro - regardless of whether it is a city or rural, remote areas because, according to Brajovic, in the era of pandemic no one must be forgotten.

Brajović also reminded that it is equally important to ensure synchronized and coordinated action of all sectors and engagements of the entire society, but also to invest in crisis communication because only an informed and responsible citizen can be part of a global solution.

The situation is alarming, nationally and globally. More than ever, national unity and cooperation are needed. This means that everyone, both the Government and the citizens, must do everything in their power, because the virus does not choose. Everyone is vulnerable. It is possible to reverse the trend. The formula for a safe life in the new reality is simple. Wear a mask, avoid crowds and closed spaces with poor ventilation, take care of hand hygiene.

Mina Brajović, Head of the Office of the World Health Organization in Montenegro

The director of the Institute of Public Health, Boban Mugoša, thanked the World Health Organization, and especially Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Director for Europe, emphasizing that the WHO supported Montenegro in all basic directions of a real response to the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thanks to the WHO, we have improved and raised our laboratory capacities 12 times, we have increased the monitoring capacities, but also improved the risk communication so that we can reach as many Montenegrin citizens as possible and make them acquainted what is important aspects of the epidemic.

Boban Mugoša, Director of the Institute of Public Health,

Mugoša concluded that, thanks to the support of the WHO, Montenegro is managing to strengthen all the links which enable keeping the epidemic under control, to the possible extent.