THE SWISS AMBASSADOR H.E. VERONIK HULMAN VISITS THE REGION

July 25, 2022, Ohrid  Ambassador of Switzerland in Skopje, H.E. Veronique Hulman, within the framework of her stay in the Southwest planning region, visited the Public health institution “St. Erasmus” in Ohrid, during which he held a working meeting with the representatives of this health institution, the Center for development of the Southwest planning region, the Municipality of Ohrid and the Municipality of Struga. At the same time, Ambassador Hulman was informed about the significance of the reconstructed pool for physical therapy, which created conditions for patients from the institution, but also from the wider region, to be able to use the specialist services of local experts for the treatment of diseases related to impaired motor functions in the human body.  The manager of the Center for development of the Southwest planning region, Mirjana Lozanoska, informed Ambassador Hulman that with the project, the total value of which is eight million denars, the machine and pool part of the equipment has been modernized, new solar collectors have been installed, and work has been done in electrical installations and on the building itself in order to raise its energy efficiency. With the performed interventions, the operation of the physical therapy pool has been completely modernized, while the costs for its operation are insignificant for the Saint Erasmus special hospital. The project was implemented last year within the framework of the Grant Scheme from the Sustainable and Inclusive Balanced Regional Development project, for which funds were provided by the Swiss agency for development and cooperation and the Ministry of local self-government. The director of the hospital Aco Veleski informed that for over ten years the swimming pool was not in operation and physical therapy was not performed due to the high costs of the institution, but now the situation has changed, so that there are no obstacles for the services to be available to users from the wider community. At the same time, here, in the first place, are the youngest who are more often faced with different types of deformities. The Mayor of Municipality of Ohrid, Kiril Pecakov, also took part in the meeting, who expressed his gratitude and satisfaction for the cooperation with the Swiss Embassy and the Agency for development and cooperation. Pecakov highlighted the successfully implemented projects in the past period, emphasizing that the Municipality of Ohrid in cooperation with the Center for development is preparing new projects, which he hopes will be supported again. Ambassador H.E. Veronique Hulman emphasized that she is satisfied with the cooperation and fulfillment in the implementation of the projects that are implemented through the Center for development of the Southwest planning region. She emphasized that Ohrid is high on their agenda and that in the future she hopes for renewed cooperation in the realization of large projects that are of interest to the city.