Bosnia’s authorities “have done everything possible to get the vaccines to the country,” World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, said after meeting with BiH’s Council of Ministers Chairman, Zoran Tegeltija, on Tuesday.
Kluge and a WHO delegation met with Tegeltija and the Prime Ministers of Bosnia’s two semi-autonomous entities, Fadil Novalic and Radovan Viskovic, to discuss the pandemic and reforms of the health system.
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WHO and BiH are on Tuesday signing a cooperation agreement regarding the ‘Roadmap for Health in the Western Balkans 2021 – 2025’, which, according to Kluge, “outlines the strategic vision for four years in health and will attract additional resources.
Kluge began his address to the media by expressing condolences to all those who lost loved ones to COVID-19 in Bosnia and his “sincere gratitude” and “admiration” for the health workers who are on the front line in the battle against the disease in the country.
“I would like to commend the Chairman, the Prime Ministers and the health authorities for their coordination and enabling an effective response to COVID-19 in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.
Уживо: Изјаве предсједавајућег #СМБиХ Зорана #Тегелтијe и регионалнog директорa @WHO_Europe @hans_kluge
делегацијa @WHO
предсједник @Vlada_Srpske Радован #Вишковић
федерални премијер Фадил #Новалић,
@civilniposlovi Анкица Гудељевић https://t.co/kNjVfDUQ7i— Савјет министара БиХ (@Vijeceministara) May 4, 2021
Kluge said that the Western Balkan region is a “geopolitical priority” for him and the UN agency he represents, stressing WHO’s commitment to cooperation with the BiH Presidency, Council of Ministers and Bosnian authorities to “place health at the top of the political agenda.”
Kluge thanked Tegeltija and the Prime Ministers of Bosnia’s two semi-autonomous entities and BiH’s health authorities “for their commitment and support to develop the Roadmap for Health in the Western Balkans 2021 – 2025.”
He praised Bosnia’s Civil Affairs Ministry and Minister Ankica Gudeljevic and her team for “coordinating the COVAX efforts.”
He also commended the health ministers of Bosnia’s entities, Vjekoslav Mandic and Alen Seranic, for “ensuring country preparedness in terms of vaccines.”
The WHO official stressed that his agency will “continue to advocate tirelessly” for the accelerated rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Globally, we have seen that the start of the vaccination was relatively slow. We have to realise that this is not routine immunisation. This is global pandemic immunisation. Usually, it takes five to ten years to develop a safe and effective vaccine. It is historical that now, in one year, there are more than five safe and effective vaccines on the market,” he said.
“I would like to assure you and confirm that the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from their part, have done everything possible to get the vaccines to the country. But there is a global shortage. And WHO is working hard in a public-private partnership to beef up the production capacity, to increase the number of vaccines and to have a transfer of technology,” he explained.
“The only way we can get out of the pandemic is with solidarity,” Kluge said.
“I am cautiously optimistic. I see light at the end of the tunnel,” he added.
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