New life for hemodialysis patients from Goražde, they will no longer have to go to Sarajevo

By: Ernad Metaj

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The hardships of hemodialysis patients from BPK Goražde who went to Sarajevo three times a week for therapy (dialysis) should be ended by the beginning of 2022. The works on establishing a hemodialysis center at the Cantonal Hospital in Goražde are in the final phase and the center will be available to patients from 2022. For ten hemodialysis patients, including Mehmed Hadžijahić, this will be a great relief.

- Hemodialysis services in Goražde will enable a new life for us patients, because due to the daily travel to use hemodialysis services in Sarajevo, many of our patients have already died. We are very satisfied with what has been done so far and I hope that this center will soon be put into use, so that we no longer suffer,” said Hadžijahić.

The Government of BPK Goražde invested 823,860 KM in this project, and medical equipment worth 500,000 KM was secured through donations.

- Our path to the completion of this project was not easy at all. From the very beginning, we faced numerous obstacles, starting from the lack of a proper conceptual design, to equipment and specialist staff. However, when something is truly desired, and we in the Government of the Bosnian-Podrinje Canton Goražde made it a priority, then everything can be achieved with joint efforts. For our fellow citizens, dialysis patients, some of whom, unfortunately, are no longer with us, every day is important. There were delays in the execution of works, partly due to the lack of sophisticated equipment, and the Government sent urgent requests at its sessions for their acceleration and completion, pointed out the Prime Minister of BPK Goražde, Aida Obuća, who visited the future hemodialysis center today with her associates.

The completion of the project, according to the director of the Public Health Institution „Cantonal Hospital“ Goražde, Nermina Kamenica, was slowed down by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented the timely procurement of necessary materials and equipment.

„The construction of the center is nearing completion and I hope that at the beginning of the new year, in consultation with experts, we will open this center. The necessary medical equipment has been provided, as well as medical staff, so initially the Hemodialysis Center will employ two doctors, including a top nephrologist, and four nurses who have undergone training and recently passed the final exam,” emphasizes Director Kamenica.

From the Government of BPK Goražde, they stated that despite numerous challenges, especially due to the coronavirus pandemic, they have not and will not forget other patients. According to Prime Minister Obuća, this government has proven that the healthcare system is one of its priorities, so investments and modernization of healthcare institutions will continue.