Mesihović: There are eight clusters in KS, UNDP also involved in procurement of equipment

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Rusmir Mesihović, Minister of Health of Sarajevo Canton, told Patria that eight clusters have been verified in Sarajevo and it is possible that some new ones will open, but the goal is one - to encircle the clusters.

"This is being done now with more massive testing so as not to allow them to spread," Mesihović said.

As for self-isolation, according to today's information, as of March 31, we have 1,962 people, and 1,152 people have left isolation.

"A total of 272 patients have been tested, of which 24 are positive, five since yesterday. Three patients are hospitalized, they are stable and do not have a severe clinical picture," Mesihović pointed out.

He called the current epidemiological situation satisfactory.

"That is what we are aiming for, to show the success of the preventive measures we took before some more serious situations entered Sarajevo Canton. We are in daily contact with the Crisis Staff, which holds sessions and convenes every day. No system in the whole world, as we can see, is ideal for such a situation, we see it in the US and other health systems, so changes are happening and will happen in our country on the go, both in the organization of work and in some approaches to treatment and in the fight against coronavirus," said Mesihović.

He praised the citizens of Sarajevo Canton who are conscientious and the vast majority truly respect the prescribed measures.

"We do not have patients over 65 years of age, and over 67,000 of them live in the Canton. However, they respect the measures, and our goal was to protect this group of residents to the greatest extent," added Mesihović.

All measures remain in force until further notice.

"I continue to appeal for everything to be respected, from hand washing to social distancing and everything that the KS Civil Protection Staff and the Federal Civil Protection Staff have prescribed," Mesihović noted.

He praised the good cooperation between the General Hospital "Prim. dr. Abdulah Nakaš" and KCUS and Emergency Medical Services.

"There are tests, and more significant testing has been done in recent days. Mobile teams from Health Centers are starting to collect swabs, but we will change anything that is noticed to be 'limping' on the go. Testing is done according to indications, it is for all citizens who have indications," Mesihović explained.

When it comes to procuring the necessary medical equipment, Mesihović says that all the wishes of the health institutions have been forwarded to the Health Insurance Fund, and UNDP is also involved in everything.

"The Health Insurance Fund, by the decision of the KS Assembly, is obliged to start procuring protective equipment and material resources for the KS institutions that have submitted their needs to the Crisis Staff, and the Staff has forwarded them to the Fund. UNDP has become involved in this procurement, which is good, because UNDP will have direct contracts with the people who will procure it directly, and the entire arrangement will go through the Health Insurance Fund, UNDP, and partly the KS Government," Mesihović said.

He points out that there is a high demand for this equipment in China.

"The Chinese authorities sent a letter to the governments of the countries informing them about what is happening and that it would be good to have direct contact with them. There is a high demand for everything needed to fight the coronavirus," Mesihović emphasized.