Old Town establishes Operational Centre to serve citizens 24/7

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Mayor and Commander of the Old Town Municipal Civil Protection Staff, Mr. Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, convened the second extraordinary session today, which adopted a new set of measures and conclusions regarding the prevention of the spread of the coronavirus and assistance to citizens.

“Starting today, the Old Town Civil Protection Operational Centre will be operational and available to citizens 24 hours a day, acting in case of need. The Operational Centre consists of our employees who will work in shifts and assist citizens in cases where it is necessary to provide medication, food, humanitarian packages, or direct them to healthcare institutions in case of need for medical assistance,” said Mayor Hadžibajrić.

The Operational Centre's duty phone number is 033/282 336 and is available to citizens 24 hours a day.

“In order to protect our employees, the Staff today decided that from Monday, March 23, 2020, the work regime will be reduced to the minimum possible extent, so that employees will cease working, and this decision is in effect until the end of the month,” said the Mayor.

A part of the Service Hall will remain at the citizens' disposal, specifically the Civil Registry counter and the certification counter, which will operate from 9 AM to 12 PM, Monday to Friday.

“We will strive to be as helpful as possible to our citizens, so our local communities, which are the 'lifeline' of the municipality and the first link with citizens in the field, will continue to operate. Secretaries will coordinate between citizens and our Operational Centre and act together in the field,” explained Hadžibajrić.

Citizens are warned that, regardless of this operational regime of the Old Town Municipality, adherence to all legally prescribed obligations is mandatory. This is emphasized because there is information that a large number of construction companies are currently engaged in work in this area, and citizens are warned that any illegal construction will be stopped and sanctioned. Municipal construction inspectors will act in accordance with their powers, and the Service for General and Inspection Affairs calls on citizens to report all information about potentially illegal construction to the inspection's Viber number: 061 22 58 00.

The Municipal Staff today also decided to make all formed protection and rescue services in the Old Town available: DZ Stari Grad, UVD “Vratnik”, First Police Administration – PS Stari Grad, and Klico trans gradnja, which will be provided with all necessary materials and equipment in accordance with the declared emergency measures. The Stari Grad Health Centre has been allocated funds in the amount of KM 20,000 for the procurement of additional protective equipment: masks, gloves, disinfectants, non-contact thermometers, etc.

The Old Town Red Cross will receive funds in the amount of KM 5,000 to assist socially vulnerable populations who are their beneficiaries, primarily cancer patients, and individuals in need of food, hygiene products, and adult diapers.

“Building managers in all buildings in the Old Town Municipality of Sarajevo are instructed to disinfect all entrances and stairwells in collective housing facilities in this municipality at least once a week,” added Mayor Hadžibajrić.

The Civil Protection Service of the Old Town Municipality is obliged to prepare the necessary normative-legal acts and decisions in accordance with today's conclusions and legal regulations, so that these measures can be implemented as soon as possible.