Bitola Hospital Receives $450,000+ Donation

in Medical Equipment

Following the successful delivery of medical equipment worth over half a million dollars in 2022 to the Skopje Hospital, the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) partnered once again with the Michigan-based World Medical Relief and the Vermont-based Dattilio Medical Mission to deliver medical equipment worth $450,620 this time to the Dr. Trifun Panovski Clinical Hospital in Bitola, Macedonia.

Since 2004, UMD has facilitated and/or donated over $1.5 Million (USD) in charitable and humanitarian assistance to Macedonia.

Nearly six tons of equipment and materials, including respiratory care systems, oxygen masks, surgical supplies, surgical instruments, orthopedic items, I.V. supplies, gauze, bandages, ICU beds, crutches, wheelchairs, and diagnostic tools were donated by World Medical Relief. UMD and the Dattilio Medical Mission covered the costs related to shipping and handling from Michigan to Macedonia via the port of Durres, Albania.

Earlier today, UMD Macedonia and Europe Director Gordan Jordanov visited the hospital, toured the facilities, and witnessed the impact this donation of medical equipment and supplies will have on the city of Bitola. Jordanov was joined by the Macedonian Minister of Health Fatmir Mexhiti and the Macedonian Minister of Culture Bisera Kostadinovska Stojcevska, who was born in Bitola. Photos here.

The Bitola Hospital Director Elizabeta Ivanovska expressed her deepest gratitude to World Medical Relief, UMD, and the Dattilio Medical Mission, saying that the equipment is of great importance for the hospital and that with it, the level and quality of health services and healthcare for patients from the entire region will be improved. Ivanovska noted that it has been several years since the Bitola Hospital received such a donation.

Bitola’s Tera TV covered the visit and you can see the video here:

UMD thanked Ivanovska, as well as the Head of the Department for Material and Financial Operations at the Hospital, Marija Bogdanovska for their collaboration and hard work.

Dr George Samson, President and CEO of World Medical Relief, said:

"We were there in Macedonia 13 years ago. I saw the needs of the people when it comes to health care. World Medical Relief is committed to helping the sick and poor of your country. Great country, great loving people, and great culture."

Alexandar Bezanovski, World Medical Relief Ambassador of Health for Macedonia who is pursuing his MD from Central Michigan University College of Medicine, said:

“As a Macedonian American, I will never forget the country where my parents came from and where my family still lives. Bitola is a place that I call home. As an Ambassador for World Medical Relief, our organization will make sure to take care of this home. Simultaneously, as a medical student at Central Michigan University College of Medicine, the imperative to alleviate human suffering propels us forward. Our goal is to guarantee that every patient, particularly fellow Macedonians, receives the fundamental care they deserve. Collaborating with organizations such as UMD and the Dattilio Medical Mission is pivotal to our vision, as it allows us to work collectively toward providing essential medical supplies for more Macedonians in need, forging a future where healthcare reaches every corner of Macedonia.”

UMD Co-Founder and Board Member Metodija A. Koloski said:

"We cannot be more grateful to World Medical Relief for securing this generous amount of medical equipment and supplies for Macedonia, for the second time in a row, especially fellow Macedonian-American Alexandar Bezanovski, who helped spearhead this project, together with UMD’s director on the ground in Macedonia Gordan Jordanov. We are pleased our dear friends from Vermont General Dubie and Dattilio Medical Mission joined us once again to help alleviate the health challenges in the country.”

Lt Gen (ret) Michael Dubie, the Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard (2006-2012) and the 2012 UMD Macedonia Friendship Award recipient, said:

"The Dattilio Medical Mission based in Vermont, USA, is very pleased to be able to partner with World Medical Relief and the United Macedonian Diaspora organization to support the recent shipment of medical supplies to the Clinical Hospital Dr. Trifun Panovski, in Bitola, Macedonia."