Order from the Municipal Civil Protection Staff of Stari Grad: Health Center to Form Field Work Teams

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Municipal Civil Protection Staff of Stari Grad held a meeting today in an expanded composition, due to problems in the field that arose after the declaration of certain measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Commander of the Municipal Civil Protection Staff of Stari Grad, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, issued an order requiring the Stari Grad Health Center to urgently form palliative care teams.

"Our Operational Center and the secretaries of the local communities have received a large number of calls from the field in the last two days from elderly and frail individuals, those who need medical care and assistance, people who are immobile, who need examinations, changing, and more. Health services must now be involved, and therefore we are issuing an order requiring the formation of teams from the Stari Grad Health Center that will visit these people and act within their competencies," said Hadžibajrić.

Otherwise, the Stari Grad Health Center is one of the protection and rescue services in case of natural and other disasters, which the Municipal Staff had already equipped with the necessary equipment, and at the last Staff meeting, it was concluded to allocate another 20,000 KM for protective equipment: masks, gloves, protective suits and visors, protective gowns and covers, disinfectants, and more.

"I propose that in case of a shortage of medical staff, all those registered with the Employment Bureau who are medical professionals be called upon to help in this situation. We are asking the KS Government to find a legal way to implement this proposal, given the need for palliative care," he added.

The Staff adopted a conclusion obliging the Stari Grad Health Center to submit daily reports to the Municipal Staff by 10:00 AM regarding field visits and interventions by the Palliative Care Teams, via email: [email protected].

"Our people are constantly in the field and we are constantly receiving requests. In order to do everything in our power, starting tomorrow, employees of the Operational Center will operate from the premises of the local communities. The job of the Operational Center is to receive requests from the field and act within its capabilities. We can bring food or hygiene packages to people if needed, medications, flour. We will also coordinate with the Red Cross Stari Grad and the requests they receive. Medical assistance must be provided by professional staff, and our people will forward all received requests to the Palliative Care Teams so that they are where they are most needed," said Hadžibajrić.

Local communities of the Municipality of Stari Grad and the Operational Center will operate daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and citizens can contact them at the Operational Center's duty phone number 033 282 336, or via email [email protected].

These contacts are available 24 hours a day. Given that people over 65 are prohibited from moving, information was requested from public kitchens about how food is delivered to these categories.

The Stari Grad Soup Kitchen has started delivering meals to users over 65, but an updated registry is needed, and activities will be undertaken in this regard tomorrow.

The Red Cross Stari Grad has engaged volunteers who will deliver meals from their kitchen starting tomorrow, and will also, as needed, shop for elderly people, bring medications, pay bills, and the like. The contact phone number for the Red Cross Stari Grad is 033 632 137.

The distribution of one-time financial aid, which the Municipal Civil Protection Staff of Stari Grad adopted as one of its first measures to help socially vulnerable categories of the population, will continue next week, in accordance with a realistic assessment of the situation and needs in the field and based on information from local communities.