The reconstruction of the Health Center in Tološi, which dates back to 1960 and which ceased operations after the coronavirus pandemic due to dilapidation and poor condition, began today, the Capital City announced.
The Mayor of Podgorica, Saša Mujović, said that the start of the works is the result of quality cooperation between the Capital City and the Government.
"Thanks to the understanding and support of Minister (Vojislav) Šimun, who recognized the initiative and provided the necessary funds in the amount of 200 thousand euros, today we are witnessing the beginning of work on the facility that has been in a neglected state for a long time," said Mujović.
He said that he expects the Health Center to be fully functional in three to four months, to the satisfaction of the residents of Tološ.
Mujović emphasized that this is not the only joint initiative of the Capital City and the Ministry of Health, and that the plan is to include a Health Center within the future multifunctional facility in Zagorič, as well as in the planned multifunctional facility in Zabjelo.
"He also recalled the joint initiative to relocate the Methadone Center from Konik, as well as the discussions regarding the Montefarma warehouse, emphasizing that the scope of joint activities of the Capital City and the Government is very broad," the statement said.
Speaking about the development of Tološ, Mujović said that the settlement had been neglected for many years, but that it would receive numerous new facilities in the coming period.
"In addition to the reconstruction of the Health Center, at the end of May we expect to issue a public call for tenders for the construction of a sewage network, within which two primary collectors will be built," said Mujović.
He said that they are negotiating with the Ministry of Education to allow locals to use the grounds of the "Novka Ubović" Elementary School, while the Secretariat for Sports is working on securing a location for the construction of a sports field in Tološi.
Šimun said that the Tološi Health Center facility served as a COVID point during the coronavirus pandemic, but was subsequently abandoned due to a lack of staff and inadequate infrastructure investments.
"One of the first initiatives of the management of the Podgorica Health Center, together with me, was to provide the citizens of Tološ with adequate and accessible healthcare, and this project not only involves the renovation of the facility, but also the improvement of health services at the primary health care level," said Šimun.
As he said, in addition to general medicine services, Podgorica will receive another radiology center within primary health care, because the project envisages the installation of a new X-ray machine, which has already been purchased and is worth over 100 thousand euros.
"Citizens will be able to have laboratory tests and ultrasound examinations done in one place, and the facility also houses the Montefarma pharmacy. In this way, we are meeting all the key needs of the residents of this part of the city, bearing in mind that there is a kindergarten and a school in the immediate vicinity, which further confirms the importance of this project," said Šimun.
He said that he expects a tender to be announced in the next two months for the construction of the largest health center in Montenegro, in the Siti Kvart district.
"And soon the construction of a new hospital within the University Clinical Center, namely the Children's Hospital, will begin, in cooperation with international partners, whereby the Ministry of Health continues its intensive investments in improving health care for all citizens of Montenegro," said Šimun.
The Director of the Podgorica Health Center, Dragana Durković Perović, said that this is a joint initiative of the Capital City, the Ministry of Health and the Health Center, which will complete a set of needs for about 15 thousand residents of that part of Podgorica.
She added that this will relieve the burden on the Health Center in Block V.
With the implementation of this project, as Durković Perović said, the residents of Tološ will have health care in one place.
"The Ministry of Health made it possible for us to purchase X-rays worth 104 thousand euros and ultrasound machines worth 30 thousand euros, while Montefarma's participation is ten thousand euros," said Durković Perović.
She added that expanding capacities in Zabjelo and Zagorič is very important, because healthcare at the Podgorica level will be significantly improved.
Bonus video:
