Not long ago, the health care centre in the village of Kolonje, Lushnje district, was a building in ruins standing amid hedgerow and trash. However, the building has completely now changed. The health centre has been rehabilitated, expanded and equipped with brand new equipment under a reconstruction project as part of the national programme designed to rehabilitate as many as 300 health care centres across the country.
Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the rehabilitated centre with its medical staff of two doctors, six nurses and healthcare personnel. The Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu said that doctors and nurses were often forced to provide care services to local residents by visiting them in their homes due to the centre’s inappropriate conditions. “The health centre in the village of Kolonje was in ruins, with high moisture levels and surrounded by bush and rubbish. The healthcare personnel were unable to deliver health services to community and were often forced to visit patients in their homes instead of this centre. Conditions have now changed thoroughly meeting the highest standards as it is the case in other newly reconstructed healthcare centres all over the country.”
The centre has been equipped with the necessary equipment for the primary health care services, as well as the information citizens should receive about their health.
“I work for 14 years in this centre and I don’t recall it to offer such working conditions,” a member of the healthcare personnel said.
“It was deserted in ruins and now it is a perfect building,” says a resident, who receives care at this centre for years.
A growing number of citizens are showing interest in undergoing the preventive check-up as part of the preventive check-up programme launched by the Albanian government and aimed at improving the population’s access to preventive services offered by primary health care. “The health centre in the village of Kolonje provides all primary health care services. The majority of the members of our community have undergone the basic medical check-up. The visits to the centre have increased significantly,” one of the doctors said.
One of the reasons raising awareness among the public is that the regular medical check-up has helped a significant number of citizens to detect and prevent acute illnesses that can easily be detected only by performing basic medical check-up once a year. “People are showing greater interest in performing the basic medical check-up as a way to detect and prevent serious diseases.”
“I undergo medical check-up every year. I have had a heart surgery and I perform regular visits,” a citizen said.
“The basic medical check-up service was not provided at this centre previously due to the lack of appropriate premises. The building was totally ruined,” Health Minister Manastirliu said.
HPV test checks are being performed for first time in the healthcare centres across the country. An HPV test is essential in detecting cervical cancer. “This is a service offered to women, as HPV test checks are now being performed at the primary healthcare centres to prevent cervical cancer. Training programs have concluded and doctors have begun to screen women,” Minister Manastirliu said.
Health Minister informed that “in addition to health infrastructure projects, primary health care package is being expanded. Basic check-up is active across the country. Thanks to the improvement of infrastructure, access has increased, including the package we offer for all free injections and 24-hour service at certain centers. Also the service we launched for the HPV test that serves women.”
