New specialist equipment to strengthen crisis management elements gifted to MOD

New specialist equipment to strengthen domestic crisis management elements in combating coronavirus has been gifted to the MOD by the National Union of Employers. This specifically includes a thermal camera for body temperature screening, which is now to be used in the quarantined zone of Žehra village in the coming days, as well as five inhalation devices to be distributed to hospitals in Bratislava, Martin, Ružomberok and Košice.

This announcement was made by Prime Minister Igor Matovič, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď, and Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko at a press conference at the MOD today. Further details on the gifted camera system were provided by Miroslav Kiraľvarga, President of the National Union of Employers, and Jozef Buday, member of the Presidium of the Union of Employers.

Appreciating the cutting edge technology as a gesture of goodwill, Prime Minister Igor Matovič said: "You know that in this time of crisis it is completely normal for people, employers and firms to ask themselves what the State is doing for them. However, in this case the provider is the other side. Those whom we expected to ask for help have stepped forward to offer assistance to all SVK citizens who will need it."

At the press conference, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: "I highly appreciate that the National Union of Employers has come forward with an offer in the form of this gift at this time of coronavirus crisis in the fight against which the MOD has been so intensely engaged." As he explained, the MOD will make use of the donated equipment primarily in combating coronavirus, whether it be as part of SVK Armed Forces operations or at the Central Military Hospital Ružomberok and St Michael's Hospital in Bratislava. "We have thus saved much money and, thanks to the equipment, I hope we will save a lot of human lives," he added.

As President of the National Union of Employers Miroslav Kiraľvarga noted, that the Union of Employers has gifted the equipment to Slovakia exemplifies how the cooperation among entrepreneurs, employers and citizens should work at a time of crisis. Member of the Presidium of the Union of Employers Jozef Buday explained that the "gifted thermal camera is capable of screening up to 100 passers-by per minute for elevated body temperature. As part of the gift, five inhalation devices will be especially used for treating respiratory diseases." This is also true of COVID-19.

Expressing his thanks for the donated thermal camera, Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko said: "The Armed Forces will use it as soon as our specialists have familiarised themselves with its use and operation. The equipment will be first trialled and operated in the quarantine zone in Žehra." Thermal imaging will help detect potentially sick residents, which will speed up the process of lifting the lockdown measures.