Emergency aid stations in Hadžići, Ilijaš and Vogošća by mid-September

The opening of three new 24-hour emergency aid stations in Ilijaš, Hadžići and Vogošća is expected by the middle of next month, reports the BH News Agency Patria. This is a result of the implementation of a project by the Health Insurance Fund, led by director Kenan Crnkić, and the Emergency Aid Service, led by director Sena Softić-Taljanović.

Fund director Kenan Crnkić stated that 700,000 KM has been allocated for this purpose, which will enable the opening of three new stations simultaneously.

- We are deeply convinced that a large number of citizens who gravitate to these areas for any reason will now have the opportunity to receive higher quality, more efficient, and better healthcare, which is the primary goal of the Sarajevo Canton Health Insurance Fund. If this project helps save even one human life, I believe that the mission of myself as a person, the structures that have entrusted me with this duty, and the institution I represent will be fulfilled, and the benefits of this historic undertaking will certainly significantly exceed its costs - Crnkić emphasized.

Indeed, for many years there has been a need for more emergency aid stations, as Sarajevo only had three emergency aid stations that responded to all calls and lost a lot of time reaching remote locations. Patients often do not have enough time, and their lives depend on minutes. Therefore, representatives of municipal and cantonal authorities recognized this long-standing problem and, with the support of the relevant Ministry of Health, found ways to implement this important project.

Director of the Emergency Aid Service Sena Softić-Taljanović pointed out that efforts have been made to realize this project since 2006, but that there was apparently no will or ability to solve this problem for more than 70,000 citizens living in these three municipalities.

- Thanks to the new director of the Fund, Kenan Crnkić, and the relevant ministry, citizens gravitating to the area of these three municipalities will no longer be in an unfairly discriminatory position compared to other citizens of the Canton. Namely, until now, we were in a situation where we often could not objectively provide emergency medical assistance to individuals who needed it within the so-called 'golden hour,' which is the standard in our work, due to the great distance and frequent traffic jams. By opening these three stations, we are geographically closer to an extremely large area, we can react significantly faster, and provide timely and adequate medical assistance, thereby contributing to saving lives - said Softić-Taljanović.