Bjelave only for isolation: Covid isolation ward of the General Hospital to be operational as soon as possible

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The project of adaptation and reconstruction of the former Army Center building within the premises of the General Hospital "Prim.dr. Abdulah Nakaš" has been completed and will be signed tomorrow, thus fulfilling one of the conclusions of the KS Government regarding the formation of the Sarajevo Canton Covid isolation ward.

Acting Director of the General Hospital Ismet Gavrankapetanović, who is also a member of the KS Ministry of Health Crisis Staff, told Patria that they consider this to be the most important project for the city of Sarajevo at the moment, which will permanently resolve all fears of the sick.

"Our infectologist Dr. Drljević is working diligently with our anesthesiologists on conceiving conditions of excellence. The dynamics of the works depend on the contractors, and we will do everything to make it happen as soon as possible. We are glad that the garrison clinic and the stationary ward have returned home, i.e., joined the General Hospital Sarajevo," said Dr. Gavrankapetanović.

Although the initial idea was to use the Student Dormitory at Bjelave for the treatment of moderately ill patients suffering from Covid 19, and for it to be managed by the General Hospital, after the hospital management protested, emphasizing that these premises do not meet even the minimum hospital capacity for such patients, this idea was abandoned. These premises could be used as a center for isolation and self-isolation for people who do not have the possibility to stay elsewhere but who do not have a moderate or severe clinical picture.

"The treatment of moderately ill patients with a moderate clinical picture and developed pneumonia in the student dormitory Bjelave has been rejected as a concept," said Dr. Gavrankapetanović.

The KS Government, at its session on August 27, tasked the KS Ministry of Health, the Public Institution Institute of Public Health of KS, and the Public Institution General Hospital "Prim.dr. Abdulah Nakaš", to urgently and without delay initiate the implementation of the project for the adaptation and reconstruction of the former Army Center building within the premises of the General Hospital for the purpose of forming a COVID isolation ward of the Sarajevo Canton, in cooperation with UNDP.

The KS Government will provide the necessary funds in the amount of one million KM for the first phase of the adaptation and reconstruction of the former Army Center building, i.e., the ground floor of this building, which includes construction-craft and installation works. The plan is to accommodate about 40 hospital beds on this floor of the building.

The expert-technical supervision over the execution of the works will be carried out by the KS Construction Institute.