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SARAJEVO, May 5 (FENA) - Challenges in the health sector were the topic of today's meeting between the Minister of Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Vjekoslav Mandić and the Director of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO) Hans Kluge.
The interlocutors confirmed the readiness to strengthen the health system and primary health care, all with the aim of reducing inequality, Mandić said after the meeting.
The Minister said that the cooperation will be continued in the future in the areas of mental health of the population, in the area of infectious diseases, as well as strengthening the response to crises and in the area of education.
The officials also discussed the procurement of coronavirus vaccines, and Minister Mandić said that they expect help and support of the World Health Organization when it comes to accelerating the delivery of vaccines through the COVAX mechanism and the European Union mechanism in terms of treating the Western Balkans as part of Europe.
Director of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization, Hans Kluge, said today that the best way to express respect for the families of those who died during the pandemic is to work on preserving health and life.
He praised health and social workers, but also the response of the FBiH Government officials to the pandemic at a time when they had to make difficult decisions by choosing between measures introduced to preserve health and economic stability.
“BiH was the first country in the region to establish crisis staffs when a pandemic broke out. I would like to commend the authorities in the Federation of BiH in their efforts to procure vaccines against Covid-19,” Kluge added.
He announced that in the coming days, 100,600 doses of Pfizer vaccines will be delivered to BiH and they will arrive earlier than planned, and other deliveries of vaccines will follow so that all health workers, the elderly and vulnerable groups can be vaccinated.
“The region of the Western Balkans will continue to be a priority of the WHO and the European plan. The WHO Office in Europe is dedicated to the Western Balkans Roadmap for Health and Solidarity 2021-2025, which will be launched at the WHO Regional Committee scheduled for September,” Kluge announced.
He promised that Bosnia and Herzegovina would have all the support of the WHO for Europe in order to create a healthier, fairer and greener society and so that no one would be forgotten.
(FENA) A. B.
