The European Union’s latest donation, worth over 200,000 euros, including personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals, has been delivered to the Montenegrin health authorities. This delivery includes 8,000 gowns, 332,000 overshoes, 457,700 surgical caps and 600,000 surgical gloves. The donation is part of the European Union’s emergency support package for the fight against Covid-19 in Montenegro, worth a total of 3 million euros, implemented by UNDP. A total of 100 medical ventilators, 10 modern X-ray devices and almost 2 million pieces of personal protective equipment have been delivered since April 2020, as part of the emergency support package.
At the official handover ceremony, Head of the European Union’s Delegation to Montenegro Ambassador Oana-Cristina Popa emphasised that today’s donation is yet another proof that the European Union stands by Montenegro in difficult times, helping its health services to cope with the COVID-19 epidemic. „Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the European Union has made it clear that Montenegro is not alone, that we are standing by you and that you can count on the EU’s solidarity and support to ease the fallout of the crisis,” said Ambassador Popa. She recalled that the donation is part of the European Union’s 53 million euros support package for Montenegro’s health sector and other sectors most affected by the coronavirus crisis. „Today, by delivering vital protective equipment for Montenegrin health professionals, we continue to prove that solidarity is not an empty word, but a core European value,” the Ambassador concluded.
On behalf of the National Coordination Body, Director of the Clinical Centre of Montenegro, Dr Jevto Eraković has expressed gratitude to the European Union for the support and assistance that it has been providing to Montenegro from the first day of the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic. “This support has been extremely valuable and always timely. It’s also the case with this last batch, given the growing number of registered cases of infections and COVID-19 patients,” Dr Eraković emphasised. He welcomed the response of the Montenegrin health system to the COVID-19 epidemic, adding that the capacities of the Clinical Centre of Montenegro and other health institutions could fully respond to all the challenges ahead. “At the same time, the message to all citizens is that they should adhere to all measures recommended by the National Coordination Body. If these recommendations are followed, it will be easier for us to fight this virus,” said Dr Eraković, while also thanking the partners from the EU Delegation and the UNDP for the fruitful cooperation.
Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro, recalled that this is the fifth batch of medical and personal protective equipment that has been provided within the EU-funded project. “Over the past few months, we delivered to the health sector: 100 medical ventilators, 10 digital x-rays, and today’s donation brings the total number of personal protective equipment to almost two million pieces. This proves the strength of the partnership between the EU, UNDP and national counterparts,” Gasparikova said. She pointed out that the people of Montenegro already demonstrated in the first wave that epidemic can be contained by responsible behaviour, self-discipline and respecting the measures. “I would like to call for all citizens to continue making minor adjustments to their behaviour and contribute with their responsibility so that Montenegro can overcome the challenges and put the epidemic again under control. That’s why my message to the citizens is very simple: distance, hands, mask!” said Gasparikova.
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In early April 2020, the Delegation of the European Union and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Montenegro signed an agreement for the procurement of the necessary medical equipment and personal protective equipment for the Montenegrin health system worth a total of 3 million euros. The project is funded by the EU, while the procurement is being carried out by UNDP, in close cooperation with relevant institutions.