A completely new and modern maternity building in Gjirokastra gives end to an absurd situation which had obliged many mothers to deliver their babies in Tirana or in other hospitals. The existing building of the obstetrics-gynecologic service was ruined and the realization of its functions had become almost impossible. An investment of 1.5 million dollars of the Ministry of Health returned to about 800 mothers every year the first shelter of their newborns, fundamentally reconstructed, where even other medical apparatuses have been installed. The new premises were visited by the Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Health Ilir Beqaj and the mayor of the Municipality of Gjirokastra, Zamira Rami.

The director and the team of the doctors of the obstetrics-gynecology service specified it as an investment of the European standards. They stated that the new premises, and the contemporary apparatuses too, ensure not only a service of high standards, but they facilitate even the work of the medical staff. “The rooms are equipped with this innovation that is the antibacterial carpet. We carry out a maximal sterilization of the room. It is the best opportunity for the rooms to be 100% secure and sterile. We have all the necessary apparatuses, monitors, respirators, ISD, everything. Nothing is old, everything is new,” – the director stated.

The Prime Minister ensured that the investments in health will continue to modernize it step by step, even though the transformation of health is one of the most difficult processes even in very developed countries. “You know it better than me; it seemed as if people were going to war hospitals here, with windows covered with plastic, without glasses and without frames. Now, it has become a completely European hospital. Of course, we will continue step after step with the others. Health is a big site and it has extraordinary needs, but everything will be done step by step,” the Prime Minister stated.

The government has undertaken a broad program of investments in the hospital infrastructure which intends to strengthen the regional hospitals. In the Hospital of Gjirokastra, even the Cardiology cabinet came into function a little earlier. This hospital will benefit even from the contract of the integrated supply of the surgical instruments and of the sterilization services. “We have improvements in the Cardiology cabinet, which started in February, meanwhile even this hospital will benefit, within the deadlines, from the partnership even for the general surgery, for the sterilization and for all the disposable clothes of the operating theatre,” – Minister Beqaj informed.

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The works for the construction of the new maternity building in Saranda continue. The conditions far away even from the minimal standard of this service continue to be a heavy burden on the women, and even on their families, who have to travel towards Tirana or other hospitals. The investment plan of 320 million Albanian lek does not include only the construction of the new building of the obstetrics-gynecology service, but even its furnishing with new medical apparatuses. The Prime Minister Rama, accompanied by the minister Beqaj and some Members of Parliament, was at the construction site of the new building to inspect the works.

“The conditions used to be extremely bad. A part of the deliveries used to be carried out in Tirana. The investment of about 2.2 million dollars is a funding of the state budget. Meanwhile, we will construct completely the new surgery building in the other part,” – the minister Beqaj stated.

Even the hospital of Saranda is in bad conditions, as no interventions have been carried out for 50 years, since its construction. The entire hospital will undergo a full reconstruction, including the new operating theatre, the new reanimation service for the surgery and the pathology. Apart from the inhabitants of Saranda, the modernization of these services become even more necessary for the tourist city which welcomes thousands of holiday-makers during the summer. “The project is ready, – informed the director of the hospital. – It is about 1 million dollars as a projection, for the construction of the entire hospital, to change completely the façade and the functioning, because it is a building of the ‘60-s – ‘70-s”.

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The citizens of Gjirokastra and the tourists that visit the stone city will access more easily into its historic centre thanks to the improvement of the infrastructure in this important part of the city.

The project of the Municipality of Gjirokastra for the reconstruction of the street from “Çerçiz Topulli” square to the Checkpoint, will provide for the citizens a new, modern, infrastructure of European parameters very soon and not only.

This project, a part of the Urban Rebirth of Gjirokastra, is an investment of 250 million Albanian lek financed by the Regional Development Fund. The road, 1.3 km long, which connects the historic centre with the national road, will have two lanes, will be equipped with pavements in one side, with decorative lighting and with green surfaces along its length. Also, the project foresees the construction of a new bridge and the reconstruction of art works along the road.

The Prime Minister Edi Rama was in Gjirokastra, accompanied by the Mayor Zamira Rami and other representatives of the local authority, to inspect the works concretely and discussed the progress of the project with its administrators. They informed the Prime Minister that the road, which lacked the elements of an urban infrastructure, will be equipped in all the parameters preserving and respecting the architecture of the tradition.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister stated that after the completion of the road reconstruction, it is important the fact that the work should continue with the other infrastructural segments to ensure maximal communication facility in the axis of the visitors’ entrances and exits in Gjirokastra. “It is crucial for us to finalize this part and to continue with the upper part of the Ring road and the new square, in order for it to be completely a pedestrian area, to ensure the entrance to the Bazaar. So, this aspect will be completed in the axis that leads in and out the people who visit Gjirokastra. Then, there is the other project of those first 20 houses we want to “twin” as restored houses with Kadare’s house. Also, it iseven the intervention we want to make along with the Development Fund, in the lower part, to clean all the situation around the new buildings. Of course, without forgetting the focus on the public lighting, which is fundamental to light Gjirokastra in a special way.