Jems
On January 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM, the Launching conference for the S.O.O.S Sombor Osijek Emergency Response Partnership project was held at Nadbiskupijski Vikarijat Osijek. This project is funded by the INTERREG VI-A IPA Croatia-Serbia 2021-2027 program, with Project ID – HR-RS00084.
The conference was attended by several dignitaries, including Mr. Domagoj Mikulić, State Secretary in the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds; Dr. Važanić, Deputy Director of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine; Ms. Emeše, Director of the Health Center Sombor, along with her colleagues; Ms. Zelić-Kos, Head of the Department for Health, Social Welfare, and Croatian Veterans; Mr. Ladislav Bece, Director of the Police Administration of Osijek-Baranja County; Mr. Zvonko Grgec, Head of the Civil Protection Office; Mr. Zoran Pakšec, Chief Commander of the Fire Brigade Community of Osijek-Baranja County; Mr. Ćosić, Director of the County Development Agency; Dr. Šego, Director of KBC Osijek; representatives from emergency medical services in Zagreb, Požega-Slavonia, and Virovitica-Podravina counties; Mr. Goran Latković, Director of the Red Cross in OBŽ; various directors and representatives from health institutions and business partners; Dr. Tukara from Caritas and the Vicarage; staff from the Emergency Medical Institute; and other guests. A total of 75 participants attended the conference.
Following welcoming remarks from the State Secretary, the Deputy Director of HZHM, and the Department Head in the County, attendees were briefed on the INTERREG VI-A IPA CROATIA-SERBIA 2021-2027 program as well as an overview and value indicators of the S.O.O.S project.
Participants were informed about the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology for training medical personnel, which is a key segment of the project. Ms. Uri Emeše introduced her Health Center “Dr. Đorđe Lazić” in Sombor and discussed its role as a cross-border project partner, detailing its description, structure, and objectives.
The Osijek-Baranja County Emergency Medical Institute is the project’s lead organization. Its director, Ms. Silvana Sabo, presented an overview of the Institute’s operations and the S.O.O.S project through a presentation that emphasized four main components: VR software for training medical personnel in Advanced Life Support (ALS) and International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) modules valued at EUR 109,000; ten VR headsets worth 6,000,00 €; an ambulance vehicle costing 85,000,00 €; and eleven mobile laboratories for emergency teams valued at EUR 114,000,00.
After the presentations, a reception was held with musical accompaniment featuring staff from the Emergency Medical Institute. The staff showcased equipment available at their Training Center that is utilized in daily operations and education. Members of the Air Ambulance team were also introduced. The Emergency Medical Institute staff demonstrated how to use this equipment and provided information about their work and that of HHMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service).
