With the help of the Government of Japan, Stari Grad Health Center gets a new ultrasound machine

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The Stari Grad Health Center will receive a new ultrasound machine, which will improve primary healthcare for patients in the Stari Grad area. The procurement of the machine, costing around 42,000 KM, will be financed by the Government of Japan, while the Municipality of Stari Grad will finance the VAT costs with approximately 7,000 KM. All obligations are defined in the Agreement signed today at the Embassy of Japan by Kazuya Ogawa, Ambassador of Japan to BiH, and Samira Ahmetović, Director of the Stari Grad Health Center.

Ambassador Ogawa stated that the Stari Grad Health Center was founded in 1968 and is the only primary healthcare center in the Municipality of Stari Grad. 

- We believe that with the procurement of the new ultrasound machine, valued at approximately 21,000 euros, the quality of medical examinations at the Stari Grad Health Center will be improved - Ogawa emphasized.

He reminded that the Government of Japan has been focusing on providing support in the area of improving healthcare in BiH since 1996.

- From that period until today, 156 projects of healthcare institutions across BiH have been financed, with a total value of approximately 82 million euros - Ogawa stated.

Samira Ahmetović, Director of the Stari Grad Health Center, thanked the Government of Japan and the Embassy of Japan in BiH for the provided assistance and trust. She explained that for a large number of patients, an ultrasound examination, due to accurate and early diagnosis, also means an extension of life expectancy.

- The ultrasound machine we are currently using is ten years old. One probe for ultrasound examination is out of order, while the other probe works at 30% capacity. During 2016, a total of 2,058 examinations were performed with the existing ultrasound machine at the Stari Grad Health Center, while at least 4,000 patients require ultrasound examinations - Ahmetović explained, adding that doctors at the Stari Grad Health Center, due to inadequate diagnostic equipment, were unable to perform ultrasound examinations for all patients.

- Due to these difficulties, we sought help from Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, the Mayor of the Municipality of Stari Grad. Thanks to the support of Mayor Hadžibajrić and his recommendation, the Local Development Sector of the Municipality of Stari Grad prepared a project for the procurement of an ultrasound machine, which was successfully evaluated and based on which we are receiving the machine today - Ahmetović stated. The machine will be delivered to the Health Center upon completion of the tender procedure.