MERXHAN DACI
Health Center “18 Tetori”, which is the largest in Ura Vajgurore and covers the needs of 12 thousand inhabitants, has transferred its services to a private building, as it is under reconstruction. The doctors in the municipality, which has reported two victims since the outbreak of the pandemic, who often have to go to patients’ homes complain of insufficient protective equipment and that they are being exposed to Sars-Cov 2 infection. Currently two nurses from this center are reported to be quarantined.
As Albania is coping with a very harsh pandemic spread with new daily infections, the main health center in the small municipality of Ura Vajgurore is under is reconstruction and provides its services at a private building.
Health center under reconstruction
“Faktoje” found the main Health Center of Ura Vajgurore “18 Tetori” under reconstruction. The two-story building was empty and the walls were partly demolished in order to rebuild new ones.
The workings demonstrative table shows that the reconstruction of this health center is part of the project that includes several health centers, in three districts of the country, including the districts of Korça and Elbasan besides the district of Berat.
The displayed project data are quite general and not specified for the health center of Ura Vajgurore.
Ilirjan Komini, head of the Health Center “18 Tetori” specialized as general physician, affirmed for “Faktoje” that this was a necessary reconstruction.
“The last reconstruction was undertaken by a French foundation in 1998, so 22 years ago” – he stated.
On October 3rd of this year, the Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu inspected the works in the health center in Ura Vajgurore, which is being rehabilitated within the national program of reconstructing 300 health centers.
“We are maintaining our promise for the requalification and rehabilitation of the health center “18 Tetori”. This is one of the main health centers of Ura Vajgurore municipality. We have guaranteed the same standard for health centers and ambulances reconstruction regardless whether they are located in the city center or in the most remote of areas “- said Manastirliu.
Where do citizens receive services?
“The health center was transferred yesterday, for one month. We continued to stay there while they were working on the second floor. Now the first floor is under reconstruction, and its reconstruction is expected to last a certain period.” – said doctor Komini.
This is the entrance to the makeshift health center at Ura Vajgurore.
Photo of the exterior of the private building which is being used as a health center.
Table at the center entrance
The health center provides 24-hour service and its staff covers a community of 12 thousand inhabitants, or the former old municipality.
When asked about the infrastructure and conditions to cope with the pandemic, Komini claims that despite the cooperation between the main stakeholders in the area, there have been shortages of tampons and medical clothing.
“Tampons have been limited, at least during the last two weeks. Personally, I am treating many suspected patients. Two of our nurses are isolated. Regarding the prevention equipment we have enough sanitizers, we have received enough supplies as far as masks are concerned. Furthermore, we have also received a total of about 5 or 6 special occasion suits.
The lack of protective equipment exposes them even more to infection, especially when they need to go to patients’ homes.
There are 24 official cases of people infected with COVID-19 and two victims in the Municipality of Ura Vajgurore.
According to the 2011 Census, this municipality has 27,295 inhabitants, while according to the Civil Registry it has a population of 39,551 inhabitants.
