The humanitarian organization CARE Austria in cooperation with CARE International Balkans based in Sarajevo donated 1,015,650 protective masks to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a total value of 42,387.50 EUR, in order to support the efforts of the BiH authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus, with special emphasizing support for vulnerable groups.
The donation, funded by companies Alpstar, Havel Healthcare and Gebruder Weiss, in Bosnia and Herzegovina was taken over by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH. The distribution of donations to end users in entity Republika Srpska will be made through the Institute of Public Health of Republika Srpska, while the donation for Brcko District will be taken over by the Department of Health and Other Services. In entity Federation od Bosnia and Herzegovina the donation will be delivered to end users through crisis headquarters at the cantonal ministries responsible for health.
Also, a significant part of the donation is intended for mental health centers throughout BiH, and will include partner associations of users to whom CARE International Balkans provides support. In agreement with the donor, part of this humanitarian shipment will be received by the Service for Foreigners of BiH in order to reduce the risk to life and health of employees during their work with parties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to strengthen health institutions in BiH and certain non-governmental organizations in these extremely difficult times with a truly valuable donation. I take this opportunity to thank CARE Austria and their partners for the funds allocated to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I must mention that CARE International Balkans, thanks to the projects it has received so far during the pandemic, helped the most vulnerable groups with food and hygiene packages, protective equipment, disinfectants and economic vouchers, “said Sumka Bučan, director of CARE International Balkans.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH thanked the CARE organization for the donation and the expressed understanding for the needs of protection of life and health of vulnerable categories of the BiH population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
