A working meeting of the minister Dr. Aide Salčinović with the director of Zenica Cantonal Hospital Tarik Zulović, acting director of the Health Insurance Institute Ahmed Kasap, director of the Vareš Health Center dr. Ahmed Memić and the head of the department for epidemiology and hygiene at the Institute for Health and Food Safety, dr. Alisa Kozica.
After a certain number of residents of the Pržići and Daštansko settlements in the municipality of Vareš were found to have an increased concentration of lead in their blood, the Ministry of Health scheduled a meeting to discuss the presence of lead in the blood of residents of the municipality of Vareš and the health protection measures taken.
The director of the Vareš Health Center informed the attendees of the actions taken in which the urgent coordination of the Vareš Health Center with all relevant health and inspection authorities was agreed upon in order to determine potential sources of lead contamination. The Municipality of Vareš has developed an Action Plan for the health care of the population, which includes measures to identify and remediate sources of contamination, as well as long-term risk management.
In parallel with that, the JU Institute for Health and Food Safety carried out an epidemiological survey. The results of water sampling showed that there is no presence of lead above the reference values, while agricultural crops such as onions, spinach, potatoes, apples and carrots showed the presence of lead within the permissible limits.
It was agreed to continue with additional analyzes that include the milk of domestic animals, soil and air quality, and sampling water from taps and private springs in the settlements of Pržići, Tisovci, Daštansko, Miri and Brezik.
It was concluded that in accordance with the medical standards and rules of the profession, the Cantonal Hospital Zenica organizes internal medicine examinations of patients with elevated blood lead concentration. Based on the findings of the internist, the patients will be referred for toxicological examinations at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Sarajevo. Competent inspections will also analyze the water from the Mala Rijeka stream for additional verification of possible sources of contamination.
– The health of our citizens is a priority. The Ministry of Health, ZDK, together with all relevant institutions, will take all necessary measures in order to determine the sources of contamination and ensure the protection of the population, said the Minister of Health Dr. Aida Salčinović.
