World Health Organization, Podgorica
Institute of Public Health, Podgorica
Montenegro
Health Talks 19/2000
Health Co-ordination Meeting Summary
Date: 25th October, 2000
Attendance:
Location: Institute of Public Health (IPH) Podgorica
Institute of Public Health, Podgorica (IPH);
International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC);
Intersos (INTERSOS);
International Rescue Committee (IRC);
Malteser (MHD);
Pharmaciens Sans Frontiers (PSF);
SOS – Roma Centre (SOS-RC)
United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF);
World Vision International (WVI);
World Health Organization (WHO);
Co-chairing by:
Dr Boban Mugosa, Head of Epidemiological Unit-IPH, Podgorica
Dr Mira Jovanovski – Dasic, HA - WHO Sub-Office, Podgorica
Minutes by:
Ms Darja Radonjic, SE/TR - WHO Sub-Office, Podgorica
Dr Maria Cristina Profili, HOSO - WHO Sub-Office, Podgorica
Main Topics:
Epidemiological profile up-date; Humanitarian agencies – update of activities.
Dear “Partner in Health”: “Efficient and effective humanitarian assistance requires good communication and
coordination of efforts of all subjects involved. Your collaboration is highly appreciated, in order to support the
exchange of information among agencies, to assist you in identifying priority areas to whom your assistance would
be most beneficial, to easily identify possible gaps and beneficiaries where your activity could be effective and
helpful”. Comments and suggestions to this format of Health Talks are welcomed.
1.
Introduction
Dr Maria Cristina Profili and Dr Boban Mugosa welcomed all attendants to the 19 th Health
Coordination Meeting of this year. Dr Profili excused herself for being absent at last Health
Coordination Meeting (18th), due to many duties that she had in Belgrade office in recent 15-20 days. Dr
Dasic apologized on behalf of COOPI and CARE International representatives for not being able to
attend the meeting.
Dr Profili asked the new representatives of Humanitarian Agencies to introduce themselves: Dr Azis
Haliti who is going to replace Dr Nina Mandic in INTERSOS from the 1st November 2000, Mr. Ivan
Vrbica from IRC, Mr. Bruno Markes, new Head of Mission of PSF and Nada Koprivic from SOS
Roma Centre.
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2.
Epidemiological Profile for Montenegro – IPH
Dr Boban Mugosa gave a brief report presenting epidemiological situation in Montenegro. The
epidemiological situation in Montenegro did not change in last 20 days, and is pretty stable. The only
problem is viral meningitis, which is still present in this time of year. In Montenegro there are around 20
new cases reported during October, although normally this diseases should be decreasing or ending by the
end of September. There is also information that the situation in Serbia is even worse, since in Pozarevac
there are 90 reported cases of viral meningitis. That is probably caused by the weather conditions.
October: - 213 communicable diseases were reported.
Intestinal diseases totaled 43,1% (92) of the total number of reported diseases. Respiratory
diseases represented 35,2% (75) and parasitic and mycotic diseases represented 18,7% (40) of
the total disease profile.
Diseases
Chicken pox
Enterocolitis
Scabies
Angina Streptococcica
Herpes Zoster
Erysipelas
Total
Number
44
41
36
15
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142 (67%)
According to this brief report epidemiological situation remain stable, except the level of viral meningitis.
3.
Konik Camp: Health situation reports
IPH (Dr Ljubica Mugosa-not present at the meeting)
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Disease profile: In the month of October there were reported the following cases: enterocolitis
(32), alimentary intoxication (5), Intestinal parasites (3), Chicken pox (1), mumps (1) and several
cases of Head lice. 21 vessels for stool specimens were distributed amongst the patients and only 7
of them were brought back for analysis and all of them resulted negative.
Šutaj family: Parents who are suffering of severe form of active Tuberculosis are hospitalised in
Brezovik Hospital and children are sent to the Children’s Home, orphanage in Bijela.
One child, who is hospitalised in the KC, seems to be ill with visceral leyshmaniosis – Kala Azar.
Dr Mujovic, pediatrician from Children’s Hospital in Podgorica, made the diagnosis. It is very
difficult to find proper quantity of drugs – IRC and PSF are trying to get an adequate supply of
Glucantim.
Hygienic and epidemiological situation remain stable, despite very bad personal and general
hygiene conditions.
The problem of garbage around the bins is result of bad habits of camp residents and bad health
education.
The problem of water that residue around sanitary facilities still persists.
INTERSOS (Dr Nina Mandic)
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1724 consultations were carried out in the Health Units; 902 for adults and 822 for children.
At the meeting with WHO different and more convenient way of monitoring system in the Health
Units was established. INTERSOS health staff is going to submit to WHO, Camp Pharmacy report
about monthly consumption of drugs.
INTERSOS provided uniforms, clothes, other items to the Health Units.
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“Barrack by Barrack” monitoring has been finished and the report will be sent to WHO.
The doctors working in the Health Units ascertained that there is a need of anti-TB drugs to be
provided in the Camp Pharmacy. INTERSOS will send a list of acute TB cases to PSF in order to
get these medicines.
Humanitarian Agencies – Update of activities
SUPPLY of DRUGS and MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
REHABILITATION of HEALTH FACILITIES
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
 UNHCR cut out 25 % of IRC’s health budget and it resulted with reducing the activities of two
IRC’s programs. One of the programs was buying drugs for special cases, and the other one was of
providing orthopaedic aids. These programs will end on December 2000.
 Hopefully, UNHCR will extend IRC programme for the next year with the new funds.
Handicap International (HI)
 HI has started distribution of physiotherapy/rehabilitation equipment to the Specialized Institutions
in Igalo, Kotor and Risan. ECHO funds for this project will end on February 2001.
Pharmaciens Sans Frontiers (PSF)
 New Head of Mission came - Bruno Markes.
 Monthly drugs distribution is finished as well of the distribution of Malteser’s drugs.
 Two new expatriate pharmacists are joining PSF and they will be responsible for the
implementation of drugs stock monitoring system.
 An overview of survey on drug distribution in Montenegro was presented and copies were
distributed to the participants. A final presentation on this survey will be organized soon.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
 Distribution of surgical supplies is going on. The third distribution will start next week.
 120 mattresses will be distributed to the hospital in Niksic and 188 to the hospital in Pljevlja.
Malteser
 Malteser representative asked WHO to make some correction in the minutes from two meetings:
Health Talks n.16 on 13th September - Malteser representative comment on statement: “Reported
that a truckload of supplies has arrived, including haemodialysis equipment” is incorrect because
they did not get funds for haemodialysis equipment.
 MoH Sectoral Drugs Coordination Meeting on 21st of September - Malteser representative said
that the statement: “No other drugs donations are planned since Malteser is not a health agency”
is not correct and she prefers to modify it in the document.
HEALTH ASSISTANCE to IDPs and REFUGEES
INTERSOS
 Health education: Family planning in Konik camp continues and participants (women) are
accepting this topic with great interest. Certain amount of condoms (WHO) has been delivered to
participants through Mother and Child Care Centre. Pregnancy is new topic that has been
implementing both at Mother and Child Care center.
 IPH will repeat the total disinfection activity through the barraks in the camp by the middle of
November, which will include also disinfection of clothes and other staff. All mattresses and
blankets will be changed and old staff burned before the winter. They are also coordinating with
World Vision, which has already done the disinfection in Konik Camp II.
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 The barbering continues regularly. The only problems are girls who don’t want to get their hair
cut because of their cultural problems.
SOS - Roma Centre (SOS – RC)
 Ms. Nada Koprivic reported two problems related to the Roma population living in Niksis area:
 First problem: Dr Natasa Vujnovic, a paediatrician in school department who is performing
vaccination in this period, noticed that Roma children don’t have any documentation or proves
about their previous vaccination. These are seven-year old pupils, mainly local Roma population
children. The paediatrician noticed that their parents hide them during the field vaccination.
 Second problem: a local Roma woman in Roma Center in Niksic, got doctor’s referral for Special
Psychiatric Hospital in Dobrota, where she was a patient before. Since Dobrota Hospital didn’t
have place, the Roma Centre workers transported her to the Dom Zdravlja in Niksic. But they had
a lot of problem to admitted her into a ward in Niksic Hospital
World Vision International (WVI)
 IPH is continuing to perform disinfection of rats and insects in Konik 2. Burning of blankets has
been finished.
 Health education continues in Konik Camp 2 and will last till the end of December. WVI intends
to start some First Aid Topics and nutrition about which they have already discussed with
INTERSOS staff.
 Coastal camps: As it is known WVI agreed with JEN to work in Safari Camp for August and
September. Since JEN has confirmed that they are not ready to start their Health Education
Program, WVI will continue with implementing their own program till the end of December.
Also they are planning to meet with COOPI and consider the possibility of doing Health
Education by bus, but just for 3 weeks.
UN/EU – AGENCIES
United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)
 Distribution of hygiene items for maternity wards and paediatric departments in General Hospital
has been finished. The items were distributed to refugees also, because IFRC informed UNICEF
that they don’t have enough soaps, detergents, shampoos etc.
 Equipment for maternity ward and paediatric department has just arrived as well as the equipment
for immunization such as refrigerators and they will be distributed very soon.
 The 3rd seminar on reproductive health will take place in House of Solidarity of Red Cross in
Sutomore from 27th – 29th October. Besides volunteers from Red Cross, medical professionals from
Primary Health Care will be engaged and included in this seminar. Later on we will work on
establishing of councils for youth for several Primary Health Care Institutions this year, and for
each municipality in all Dom Zdravljas next year.
 The course “training of trainers” performed in Clinic of Childhood Illnesses within KC Podgorica,
is finished last week. So far there are 23 trained paediatricians who will train all other
paediatricians and general practitioners in Primary Health Care Institutions Montenegro. UNICEF
plans to have 8-9 such seminars and those trainings will take place in all municipalities throughout
Montenegro.
 On Friday 27th of October, UNICEF will start with public opinion poll on “breast feeding and baby
friendly hospital initiatives”. In 4 weeks they are expecting the results, which they will published.
World Health Organisation (WHO)
 Dr Profili presented and distributed new WHO concept paper on health assistance for the IDPs
population. Displaced people now number around 20 milion worldwide and as a group they have
significant public health risk and needs. A recent UN interangency meeting held in Geneva decided
against creating a separate body or agency for IDPs at this stage, but and interagency working
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group was established to plan global strategies for assisting IDPs. The UN Secretary Genera’l
special envoy will head the group, which in the next 6 months will do estimation if there is a need
for such new agency.
Overview of WHO activities:
 There are two main activities, concerning prevention/control of HIV/AIDS program, that are
agreed with Ministry of Health and IPH. Italian Cooperation supports these activities.
 Central level: WHO in agreement with the MoH is organizing a study tour to the National Institute
for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” in Rome for a multidisciplinary group of 8
physicians (epidemiologists, infectivologists, paediatricians, microbiologist and transfusiologist)
from IPH and KC of Podgorica and different PHC centers. The Institute Spallanzani is the main
referral centers/Hospital for AIDS and related pathologies in Italy and in Europe. WHO already
has such experience in other countries in the Balkans where they did the same kind of activities.
This twinning project will build-up an international link based on valid and concrete
relationships/cooperation between Institutions and professional. The first group of physicians from
Montenegro will go very soon, in the beginning of November, probably from the 6thto the 13thof
November.
 Community level: organizing a campaign for the 1st of December 2000, in cooperation with IPH,
UNICEF, JAZAS and SCF-USA and it might be needed WVI support by bus. All the
Humanitarian Agencies are invited and more than welcome to participate/support this campaign.
The 1st December it is only the day of celebration of “World AIDS Day”, but different activities
will continuing during all next year.
 WHO is discussing with MoH and IPH the possibility to provide technology support and training
to review and setting up the information system for epidemiological wards in the IPH in Podgorica
and in seven Health Centres in Montenegro.
 Funding some project prepared in cooperation of local NGO’s and Clinical Centre and concerning
a psychosocial support to women who have breast cancers.
 WHO supported the participation of three key people chosen by the Polio Regional Certificate
Committee for the European Regions (two chairmen from the National Certification Committee for
Polio eradication and the head of Virology lab. for Polio eradication control) to present, the FRY
“Manual of Operation” in Moldavia from the 11th to the 14th of October.
 Norwegian Medical Association together with WHO, with Dr. Richard Alderslade representative
from WHO/EURO, the Institute of Mental health in Belgrade and the Serbian and Montenegrin
Medical Association organized the second seminar on “Psychosocial assistance to refugees for
General Practitioners (GPs) in Montenegro” in Igalo from the 20th to the 22nd of October. The first
was held in Palic in June. Ten GPs from Montenegro participated the seminar.
Announcements
 The next Health Co-ordination meeting is scheduled for November 15th 2000.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Dr. Maria Cristina Profili, Head of Sub-Office
Dr. Mira Jovanovski-Dasic, Health Assistant
Prim dr sci med. Todor Bakovic, Director of IPH
Dr. Boban Mugosa, Head of Epidemiological Unit
World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe
Humanitarian Assistance Sub-Office, Podgorica
Institute of Public Health, Podgorica
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mobile: +381 (69) 017330 whopg@cg.yu
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