Serbia provides medical help to refugees from Middle East, Africa

Serbia has said it is ready to provide medical assistance to refugees who arrive by thousands in this country, Serbian deputy health minister Zoran Panajotovic told journalists on Monday after meeting with representatives of several healthcare institutions.

At the meeting which took place in Belgrade, they discussed the ongoing crisis caused by the increasing influx of refugees from Syria as well as other countries of Middle East and Africa and came to a conclusion that, despite a lack of medical staff and financial means, Serbia is ready to react if needed.

"We are ready to provide necessary medical assistance to migrants in hospitals, but we also need more money to provide them with better care," Panajotovic said at the press conference, asking for assistance from such organizations as the UNHCR and Red Cross.

He stressed that as weather in Serbia is getting colder, there is an increasing chance of various respiratory infections and getting colds among refugees. At the moment, most frequent medical complaints are about exhaustion as well as chronic diseases that got complicated during the long journey of these people to safety.

Health services were provided for refugees in two camps on Serbia's southern border by doctors from cities of Nis, Leskovac, Prokuplje and Kosovska Mitrovica, while patients with more serious problems are sent to the city of Vranje.

In Belgrade where refugees make a one-day pause on their way to Hungary, doctors from all medical institutions of the Serbian capital are on the field every day from 7am to 8pm at two parks surrounding the bus station, providing medicines and supplies.

Official data show that around 120,000 refugees entered Serbia since the beginning of the year, while authorities predict that their numbers will increase. Endit