SAMA Project Update
Fall/Winter 2015
Last fall, two of our board members went to Serbia to scope out potential new projects for SAMA. With the help of Ms. Verica Seničić, a new member of the SAMA Board, we identified various medical equipment needs at several Medical Centers and Hospitals in Serbia. All of the following equipment was delivered to the indicated Medical Centers between December 2015 and January 2016:
- Spirometer donation to the Medical Center in Žabalj
- ECG donation to the Medical Center in Opovo
- ECG and Fetal Monitor donation to the Medical Center in Batočina
- ECG donation to the Hospital in Loznica
These donations (with a total cost over $17000) were possible due to the generosity of many SAMA friends. SAMA worked hard to minimize the cost by buying the equipment from companies who imported it directly from manufacturers. Additionally, with all of these donations we did not have have to pay the PDV tax (20%), saving us significant funds for other donations.
Spirometer Donation to the Medical Center in Žabalj
The Medical Center in Žabalj serves a population of over 25,000 people. It is located in the South Bačka region, one of the lesser-developed municipalities in Vojvodina. So far, this Medical Center has not received any equipment allocation or donations from the Health Ministry of Serbia.
As with many other municipalities in Serbia, Žabalj is facing an aging population, and an increased incidence of lung diseases. The spirometer donated by SAMA will be used for effective diagnostics of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic and acute bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, etc.
Donation Request from the medical Center in Žabalj
SAMA worked with “Medicina Milošević” to procure the required spirometer for the Medical Center in Žabalj. We completed all the required paperwork in early December and the spirometer was delivered to the Medical Center in Žabalj on December 28th, 2015.
EKG donation to the Medical Center in Opovo
The Medical Center in Opovo serves a population of over 10,000 people. Annually, the center performs over 70,000 preventive and over 50,000 diagnostic patients visits. The municipality of Opovo is also facing an aging population. We were contacted by the Medical Center in Opovo with a pretty long list of needed equipment. SAMA selected to donate an ECG machine. After discussions with the Medical Center staff, we selected a Schiller AT-2 Plus machine with Kangaroo Trolley. The equipment was imported by the local Schiller distributor in Serbia, and delivered to the Medical Center in Opovo on January 25th, 2016.
EKG and Fetal Monitor donation to the Medical Center in Batočina
SAMA was contacted in late September by Dr. Ana Aničić, director of the Medical Center in Batočina, in regard to possible donations. The Medical Center in Batočina serves a population of about 13,000 people, including Batočina and 10 surrounding villages. Additionally, the Center is located on the E-75 highway (Belgrade-Niš highway) and often helps with traffic accident victims.
Among other things, the Medical Center performs preventive and diagnostic health service for about 4,000 women, 120 of them being pregnant. Dr Aničić asked SAMA to donate a Fetal Monitor (Cardiokotograf). SAMA donated a similar Fetal Monitor to the Health Center in Mali Idjoš in early 2015, and we contacted Medipro MPM, importer of the Bistos BT-350 LCD Fetal Monitor. The Fetal Monitor was delivered to the Medical Center in Batočina on February 17th, 2016.
The Medical Center had a number of other needs, and following discussions with Dr. Aničić, SAMA also selected to donate a Schiller ECG machine AT-101. The ECG machine was delivered by a Schiller representative on January 25th, 2016.
ECG donation to the Hospital in Loznica
Dr Mirko Mrdjen, child cardiologist and lead at the Department for Pediatric Cardiology at Loznica Hospital, contacted SAMA in early September 2015 expressing the need for a new ECG machine. The Hospital received various donations in the past, but the Pediatric Cardiology department was in urgent need of a new ECG machine. The department had two old ECG machines that were often out of order. After discussions with Dr. Mrdjen, it was jointly determined that the right machine is the Schiller AT-102 Plus.
For any questions, please contact SAMA Board at board@serbianama.org.