Acting Head of EU Office in Kosovo/EU Special Representative, Riccardo Serri, delivered today 30 ICU Ventilators, 200 Pulse Oximeters, and 20 electrocardiograph machines to Armend Zemaj, Minister of Health, to fight COVID-19 in Kosovo.

The total value of this donation is almost €900,000, and it is part of the €5 million EU assistance to Kosovo to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The items have been procured through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

“I believe that particularly the 30 Intensive Care Unit ventilators can make a big difference and ease treatment problems for those worst affected by Covid-19 infection,” said Serri. He underlined that Kosovo cannot afford a further deterioration of the Covid-19 situation.

“Everyone has to take their own responsibility and comply with the rules, such as keeping physical distance, wearing masks, washing hands, avoiding crowds, like we are doing today during this event,” he said.

“Kosovo authorities also need to show the way, and give the fight against the pandemic the urgent attention it deserves. I would also use this opportunity to call upon the Government and the health institutions to make the necessary preparations in terms of budgetary allocation and other resources to prepare as best they can,” said Serri.

In April, May, June and July, the EU has delivered to Kosovo 10 ambulance vehicles, 190 hospital beds, 6,000 COVID-19 testing kits, 150 infusion pumps, 127 patient monitors, 1.6 million different protective medical gloves, 127,000 respiratory masks, 60,000 disposable coveralls, 23,000 face shields, 3,000 protective goggles, and other medical equipment.

Apart from this direct assistance to the health sector, the EU is assisting Kosovo with around €63 million as mid-term measures for socio-economic grant assistance as well as with a €100 million loan in the form of macro-financial assistance to Kosovo.