Minister of Labour and Social Policy Rasim Ljajic today thanked the Japanese embassy and the Japanese government for a donation of over €150,000 to the Gerontology Centre in Pancevo and the Adult Care Home in Tutin.
Ljajic, who attended the signing of donation agreements, stressed that Japan is one of Serbia’s largest donors.
He recalled that since 1999 Japan has donated over €460 million to Serbia, adding that 11 social care projects were realised, estimated at over €513,000.
This is the 12th project in this remit realised thanks to Japan’s donation, he said, adding that this will help to improve the quality of services in these two social care institutions.
The Minister said that the donation will also help to continue the reform process in the social care of the elderly and the sick in Serbia.
There are 39 care homes and gerontology centres in Serbia accommodating around 9,000 persons, as well as 81 private old people’s homes accommodating 1,100 persons, Ljajic said.
Over the past two years, the Serbian government allocated RSD 520 million to form networks of services within the social care system in Serbian towns and municipalities, he recalled.
The donation agreements were signed by Japanese Ambassador to Serbia Toshio Tsunozaki, director of the Adult Care Home in Tutin Edin Jusovic and director of the Gerontology Centre in Pancevo Milentije Maksimovic.
Tsunozaki voiced his belief that medical and special equipment intended for mentally challenged persons will help to raise the level of services in social care institutions.
Source Serbia Gov.