U.S. EMBASSY DONATES RESPIRATOR TO CLINICAL CENTER

Ambassador William Montgomery today presented the U.S. Embassy's donation of a respirator to the Belgrade Clinical Center's Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), the respirator continues the Embassy's support for the Clinical Center. In April, 2001, the Embassy donated an incubator to the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit.

More than 2,000 babies that survive premature delivery die per year due to the lack of sufficient incubators and respirators in medical facilities. The Embassy's donation of the incubator (value of Dinars 305,000) and the respirator (value of Dinars 1,507,000) brings the Clinical Center closer to the optimal number of both types of equipment.

Ambassador Montgomery was met by Clinical Center General Director Prof. Vojko Djukic, Gynecological Institute Director Prof. Miroslava Pervulov, and Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit head Dr. Slavica Gligorovic.

After touring the Neo-natal Unit, Ambassador Montgomery said: "There are two basic reasons why we have donated this respirator. First, as any father in the world will know, when you see babies like this, it touches your heart and you want to help. Second, we have been impressed by how determined you and your colleagues are in making this an excellent Neo-natal Unit within the Clinical Center and by your efforts to obtain the necessary help - we admire this spirit very much. For these reasons, the USAID and OTI provided this respirator, even though it is a little out of their normal line of donations. As we enter the Christmas season, I hope that some new parents will take note of this donation and will take heart."

The U.S. Embassy's donation is part of its overall support for the reform and improvement of health care services in Serbia.

Visiting the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit are, left to right, Ambassador Montgomery, Paul Randolph (OTI), Prof. Vojko Đukić, and Dr. Slavica Gligorović

Speaking to the media at the conclusion of the visit to the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit are, left to right, Prof. Vojko Đukić, General Director of the Clinical Center, and Ambassador Montgomery

Respirator and Incubator donated by U.S. Embassy

Respirator donated by U.S. Embassy

9. novembar, 2001.

SAOPŠTENJE ZA ŠTAMPU

Ambasada Sjedinjenih Američkih Država, Beograd

AMERIČKA AMBASADA POKLANJA RESPIRATOR KLINIČKOM CENTRU

Američki ambasador Vilijem Montgomeri predao je danas respirator Odeljenju za intenzivnu negu Instituta za ginekologiju i akušerstvo, Kliničko-bolničkog centra kao poklon Američke ambasade u Beogradu. Ovaj respirator za koji je sredstva obezbedila Kancelarija za inicijativu tranzicije, Američke agencije za međunarodni razvoj je nastavak američke pomoći Kliničkom centru.

Respirator služi da novorođenoj deci pomogne da prebrode krize u organima za disanje koji nastaju u prvim satima ili danima života, bez obzira da li su deca prevremeno rođena ili u roku predviđenom za porođaj. Pokloni ambasade u vidu inkubatora (u dinarskoj vrednosti 305.000) i respiratora (u dinarskoj vrednosti 1.507.000) pomoćiće da se potrebe Kliničkog centra za ovim aparatima približe optimalnom broju.

Ambasadora Montgomerija dočekali su Generalni direktor Kliničko- bolničkog centra prof. Vojko Đukić, Direktor Instituta za ginekologiju i akušerstvo prof. Miroslava Pervulov, i Načelnik odeljenja za novorođenu decu Dr. Slavka Gligorović.

Posle obilaska neo-natalne jedinice, Ambasador Montgomery je rekao: "Ovaj respirator smo poklonili iz dva razloga. Prvo, kao što zna svaki otac na svetu, pogled na ovako male bebe dira vas u srce i budi želju da im se pomogne. Drugo, impresionirani smo rešenošću vašom i vaših kolega da učinite ovo odeljenje za prevremeno rođenu decu u okviru Kliničkog centra najboljim i vašim naporima da obezbedite neophodnu pomoć -- jako se divimo vašem duhu. Iz ovih razloga su USAID i OTI obezbedile respirator, iako to odudara donekle od njihove uobičajene vrste pomoći. Pošto ide Božić, nadam se da će ova pomoć dati više nade mladim roditeljima."

Donacija Američke ambasade je deo sveukupne pomoći reformama i poboljšanju zdravstvenih usluga u Srbiji.