The shocking images of the Health Care Centre in Maglaj, where the floodwaters quickly reached the second floor, travelled around the world in May 2014. The images today differ significantly. Financed by the Floods Recovery Programme of the European Union, fast-paced construction works to rehabilitate the Centre are underway with the aim to enable the citizens of Maglaj to access their health care services in the shortest time possible.
The deadline for finalising the rehabilitation works is set for mid-November. The works concentrate on the underground facilities to restore the heating system and ensure that electrical installations are replaced properly. The workers constantly monitor the level of moisture of floors and walls in the rest of the Centre and the refurbishment of the interior will start shortly.
Some 25,000 citizens of Maglaj and surrounding villages get health care from this Centre. “It is fair to say that, in fact, we have 200.000 beneficiaries, that is to say one person is using our services eight times in a year,“ says the Director of the Centre, Dr. Emira Drnda-Čičeklić. Despite difficult working conditions, the Centre has continued providing services to citizens, which were however limited in scope. “We are trying our best to carry on in a couple of functional premises. The services that we are temporarily not able to provide, our citizens receive in Tešanj,” adds dr. Drnda- Čičeklić.
One of them is 46-year old Rasema Mumić, who drove 40 kilometres to Tešanj for an X-ray exam and the same distance back to Maglaj to consult her doctor on the treatment. “There are many people in Maglaj who cannot afford this expense. Having gone through this, I cannot even begin to explain the importance of having access to the health care services in Maglaj,” says Mumić.
Health Centre Maglaj is one of the four Health Centres damaged in the May floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina which are currently being rehabilitated through the EU’s Floods Recovery Programme. “To restore health care services for the citizens of flood-affected areas is among the key objectives of our Programme. The Programme therefore includes rehabilitation of all health centres damaged by floods – in Maglaj, Doboj, Domaljevac and Šamac,“ notes Andy McGuffie, Spokesperson of the EU Delegation to BiH/EU Special Representative.
UNDP, the implementer of the programme is satisfied with the progress of works worth nearly 1 million KM, which began in early September. “The works are organised in three shifts on a daily basis. Having in mind that the nature of works depends on the weather conditions, we have to be patient and ensure that the quality of works is not compromised,“ says Siniša Ubiparipović, Head of UNDP Doboj.
The Floods Recovery Programme is worth 43.52 million Euro, out of which EU co-finances 42.24 million Euro to help affected communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Programme is implemented by UNDP, UNICEF and IOM.
For more information, visit the EU Floods Recovery Programme feature page
