EU PRO Programme funded by the European Union and the Republic of Serbia
  • Republic of Serbia
  • UNOPS

Žagubica, 23 September 2020

Building healthy communities

These days, despite unfavourable circumstances, EU PRO is nearing a successful completion of all projects. The results are many, but those most visible are construction projects that are improving infrastructure in local communities. Through the EU PRO Programme, European Union (EU) in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration financed 46 of those projects with the amount of 12.6 million Euros. The works were in progress in more than 30 local self-governments, during the state of emergency with almost no stagnation.

All activities were carried out with respect of protective measures against the spread of coronavirus and in accordance with the recommendation given by the Government of Serbia to the competent Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, and the private investors as well, to maintain the level of the activities at construction sites.

As  the construction works on four out of nine projects aimed at improving business environment and creating conditions for investments in industrial zones, in Kragujevac, Paraćin, Priboj and Svilajnac, were completed during 2019, the works on the five other projects implemented in Užice, Smederevo, Sokobanja, Bojnik and Šabac have been intensively carried out.

Progress has been made on more than 20 local infrastructure projects that will contribute to better living conditions of the local population through the improvement of communal infrastructure, better conditions in kindergartens and schools, as well as conditions for organising cultural and sports events.

Thus, the Health Centre in Žagubica, the only health institution in the municipality, with the support of the European Union, has significantly improved the quality of health services and working conditions for employees in this institution. Reconstruction of the heating and ventilation system financed by the EU with 86,800 Euros has been completed, which will, in addition to better conditions for about 9,600 patients, visiting the institution annually, significantly contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and the use of renewable energy sources and environmental protection.

“Our fellow citizens now have improved primary health care in their town and no longer have to travel to Petrovac na Mlavi or Požarevac. Also, the working conditions for more than 100 employees in the Health Centre will be significantly improved,” said Dr. Vesna Stojilović, director of the Health Centre.

Since the establishment of the Health Centre more than six decades ago, there have been no major investments in the facility itself, so the EU assistance is extremely important for the municipality because the new heating system has improved the energy efficiency of the building and running costs will be significantly reduced. Also, the ceilings in the rooms have been lowered and new LED lighting has been installed.

“The realised project in Žagubica will contribute to better working conditions for the employees of the Health Centre as well as improved health services for patients, which is very important today when we are facing a coronavirus pandemic,” said Martin Klaucke, Head of the Sector for Project Management of the Delegation of the European Union, while visiting Žagubica municipality.