The Government of the Republic of Korea has delivered medical equipment to the Government of the Republic of Serbia, comprising three automatic RNA extraction machines, extraction kits for 18,816 tests, diagnostic kits for 18,700 tests and 19,250 pairs of latex gloves to support Serbia’s fight against COVID-19. The value of the donation is $ 300,000.00.
At the donation ceremony held on 11 December 2020, Dr.Verica Jovanović, Acting Director of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr. Milan Jovanovćc Batut” expressed her gratitude on behalf of the Serbian government to the Korean government’s donation, and H.E. Mr. Hyoung-chan CHOE, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, stated that he hoped these items would help Serbia’s effective response to COVID-19, and also mentioned that the three automatic RNA extraction machines could help more rapid and accurate COVID-19 tests.
Ambassador Choe, reminding of the donation of medical equipment such as portable ultra sound machines and patient monitors from the government of Korea to the Military Medical Academy of Serbia in 2019, emphasized that the two countries would continue to cooperate in the health care sector and many other areas as well.
On the occasion of the ceremony, the Embassy of Republic of Korea in Serbia donated additional 5,000 protective masks (FFP-2 equivalent) and Ambassador Choe said he hoped the protective masks would be helpful for the frontline health workers to respond to the pandemic.
Doc. Dr. Aleksandar Stefoski, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, expressed satisfaction with the continued cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea. “Donations and the attention we received are welcome, as they help in rapid diagnosis and modernization, which completes a higher level of health care.” Dr. Jovanović, Acting Director of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanović Batut”, thanked for this and previous donations, and pointed out that for the institution she heads, international cooperation is extremely important, in which the Republic of Korea especially stood out.
“This gesture during the global fight against the virus is a great help to the capacities of the Republic of Serbia for testing citizens for SARS CoV-2.
The additional contribution of the Republic of Korea was achieved through the exchange of knowledge and experiences through webinars attended by experts from the Republic of Korea and colleagues from the Institute. ” The host of the donation ceremony spec. doctor Vera Stojiljković, Acting Director of the Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Serums “Torlak”, thanked for the donation of the Republic of Korea, emphasizing that every donation and every help means a lot to medical institutions.