Good afternoon everyone. It’s great to be here. It’s terrific to be here with the two of you and your staffs. I really appreciate it.
We have a saying in English that “cleanliness is next to godliness.” But for health care professionals, cleanliness can’t just be aspirational – it is vital to the health and indeed the survival of the patients in their care. So, today I have the great pleasure to officially mark the completion of renovations to the two Garment Sanitization Units at the University Clinics Health Care Center.
Through this Humanitarian Assistance project funded by the U.S. European Command, and coordinated by the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation, we have renovated and equipped the two garment sanitization units here at the Health Care Center.
These renovations will now provide proper and sanitary conditions for handling garments for the entire Health Care Center. They will provide improved working environments for the garment sanitization center employees.
This donation also includes essential equipment, such as washers, driers, ironing cylinders and presses, shelves, carts, and scales. They will improve the quality and timeliness of the process.
In our efforts to improve the Garment Center functions, in December of 2014, we also donated an Excess Property vehicle for garment transportation with a residual value of ~$10.000. That donation also included 50 sets of linens and blankets from the United States’ Area Support Team located in Ferizaj, at Camp Bondsteel.
U.S. Government understands the importance of quality health care in improving the lives of Kosovo citizens. I’m thus very proud of my Embassy’s very long tradition of helping to improve the conditions and level of health care in Kosovo.
In 2013, we completed over $2 million in renovations of two wings at the Health Care Center that allowed for the reopening of the Surgical Clinic and Infectious Disease Clinic. During 2014, we also donated a C-ARM X-ray and an Ultrasound Machine worth more than $200K.
We will continue to partner with the Ministry of Health and the leadership of the University Clinics of Kosovo to help them meet the needs of citizens of Kosovo.
Mr. Peci and Dr. Gjocaj, I appreciate the efforts of you and your staff in providing health services to the people of Kosovo and hope that this donation will enhance the operations. Please join me in unveiling this donation plaque, which will mark the official turnover of this donation from the people of the United States to the people of Kosovo.
Congratulations and I wish you much continued success!
Thank you!
