- Government of Montenegro
National Coordination Body President Simović addre...
Please note: The page below represents the archived content relating to the previous Government of Montenegro. Some of the information might be inaccurate or outdated.
Archive
National Coordination Body President Simović addresses Assembly: We must unreservedly obey advice of profession until end, as consistently as before
Published on: Apr 22, 2020 • 9:00 PM Author: PR Service
Podgorica, Montenegro (22 April 2020) -- Deputy Prime Minister and National Coordination Body President Milutin Simović said earlier today that the Government based its coping with the pandemic on the principles namely timeliness, understanding, determination, efficiency, interdepartmental cooperation, strength of institutions, credibility, commitment of individuals and, most importantly, following the recommendations of the profession and science in proposing measures and creating responses.
"In recent months, we have all witnessed a global crisis, which was caused by the pandemic of the novel coronavirus, a crisis that has not been recorded in recent history. This is a time when Montenegrin society is brought together by a common concern for the health and lives of all citizens, a concern that transcends all others and a concern that leaves aside all other issues, especially political ones. The scope of this crisis is dramatic on the global basis and cannot be seen yet. This crisis has been and it will be a great temptation for the most developed health, economic and social systems," the Deputy Prime Minister said at the beginning of the parliamentary debate on how the Government organised defence of health and life, as well as and other activities in tackling the pandemic of the novel coronavirus.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that since the early January, institutions of the health system - primarily the Institute for Public Health and the Ministry of Health - have undertaken, within their competence, a number of activities that showed their full significance in the coming months.
"As early as 31 January, the Institute for Public Health requested the Ministry of Health to form a multi-sectoral National Coordination Body for coordination and management of response to the possible outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Montenegro, which the Ministry of Health formed on 3 February. Since mid-January, the incoming threat to the health and lives of citizens has been a daily topic, which has occupied the attention of the Government, with the direct coordination of the Prime Minister from then to the present and the involvement of numerous departments and numerous competent institutions. This was essential, as well as the clearly defined way of coordinating and decision - making without unnecessary administration, free from bureaucratic approaches, with clarity and swiftness of decision-making, mandatory monitoring of the measures taken ... in a word - effective crisis management was established in accordance with the scale of the threat. The best evidence of how timely all of this is, was the data published on 25 March by the World Health Organisation (WHO), on the need to involve entire Governments in combating and controlling the pandemic. Our Government did not wait for 25 March but instead committed itself to this threat at full capacity, I recall once again, even in mid - January, so two and a half months earlier," the DPM pointed out.
National Coordination Body President said that it was necessary to ensure the return of our citizens to their homeland; protective equipment on the market that was practically in collapse. There were hardly any offers and for small quantities of goods to be found, prices were jumping from hour to hour; to reorganise and improve our health care system in line with the new urgent needs such as quarantines, temporary hospitals, response centers and much more.
"All these and numerous new issues that were raising on an hourly basis shall be addressed immediately and without delay. In order to create the assumptions for appropriate responding to such a high volume of activities, we have formed seven operational staffs:
"In recent months, we have all witnessed a global crisis, which was caused by the pandemic of the novel coronavirus, a crisis that has not been recorded in recent history. This is a time when Montenegrin society is brought together by a common concern for the health and lives of all citizens, a concern that transcends all others and a concern that leaves aside all other issues, especially political ones. The scope of this crisis is dramatic on the global basis and cannot be seen yet. This crisis has been and it will be a great temptation for the most developed health, economic and social systems," the Deputy Prime Minister said at the beginning of the parliamentary debate on how the Government organised defence of health and life, as well as and other activities in tackling the pandemic of the novel coronavirus.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that since the early January, institutions of the health system - primarily the Institute for Public Health and the Ministry of Health - have undertaken, within their competence, a number of activities that showed their full significance in the coming months.
"As early as 31 January, the Institute for Public Health requested the Ministry of Health to form a multi-sectoral National Coordination Body for coordination and management of response to the possible outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Montenegro, which the Ministry of Health formed on 3 February. Since mid-January, the incoming threat to the health and lives of citizens has been a daily topic, which has occupied the attention of the Government, with the direct coordination of the Prime Minister from then to the present and the involvement of numerous departments and numerous competent institutions. This was essential, as well as the clearly defined way of coordinating and decision - making without unnecessary administration, free from bureaucratic approaches, with clarity and swiftness of decision-making, mandatory monitoring of the measures taken ... in a word - effective crisis management was established in accordance with the scale of the threat. The best evidence of how timely all of this is, was the data published on 25 March by the World Health Organisation (WHO), on the need to involve entire Governments in combating and controlling the pandemic. Our Government did not wait for 25 March but instead committed itself to this threat at full capacity, I recall once again, even in mid - January, so two and a half months earlier," the DPM pointed out.
National Coordination Body President said that it was necessary to ensure the return of our citizens to their homeland; protective equipment on the market that was practically in collapse. There were hardly any offers and for small quantities of goods to be found, prices were jumping from hour to hour; to reorganise and improve our health care system in line with the new urgent needs such as quarantines, temporary hospitals, response centers and much more.
"All these and numerous new issues that were raising on an hourly basis shall be addressed immediately and without delay. In order to create the assumptions for appropriate responding to such a high volume of activities, we have formed seven operational staffs:
- to coordinate the implementation of measures;
- the Crisis Medical Staff;
- the Operational Staff for the return of our citizens;
- to support the economy;
- for international assistance;
- for managing donations;
- and the Operational Staff to support the tourism industry.
The National Coordination Body and operational staffs with more than 100 members, coordinated the work of tens of thousands of employees at numerous institutions:
- The Sanitary Inspection whose front line officers on the border crossings, together with the frontier police and customs acted responsibly and dedicately in their duties;
- Members of the Police and Armed Forces of Montenegro demonstrated committed, responsible and professional attitude towards all tasks;
- numerous utilities that responsibly performed their jobs throughout Montenegro, even under those difficult circumstances.
- We also note the exceptional dedication, selfless commitment of numerous employees in the service industries namely cashiers, postmen, delivery agents, as well as numerous volunteers across the Montenegro.
- A number of other competent institutions, led by our healthcare team of doctors and medical staff, who have demonstrated with their knowledge, commitment and conscience that they are up for the greatest challenges.
- Of course, the enviable awareness of the citizens in complying with the measures, prescribed by the profession, was crucially important. And despite that the numerous adopted measures meant the temporary loss of a large number of jobs and numerous restrictions on our usual and traditional habits.
- Crucial was understanding of everybody that the health and lives of the citizens were and will always be the most pressing and that we will recompense everything else together again.
- Therefore, on this occasion, on behalf of the Government of Montenegro, I sincerely thank all citizens for everything they have shown.
- We can be proud of what we have done together so far.
- Certainly, it is not time for relaxation yet and that is why we must unreservedly obey the advice of the profession. Consistently, as before.
This structure of National Coordination Body and operational staffs, which the Government organised in response to the coronavirus pandemic, has proven to be effective, especially in conditions where urgent decisions have to be made, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.
Deputy Prime Minister and National Coordination Body President thanked the citizens for their support and media for their professional cooperation.
PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/EHo7-j_NzAY
Related articles:
Prime Minister Spajić presents Barometer 26 Nov 21, 2024
Is this page useful?