President Pahor awarded the »Apple of Inspiration«

The President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor awarded the Government call centre for information on the coronavirus the Apple of Inspiration award in order to express his gratitude to all the participants for their significant contribution during the difficult times of dealing with the epidemic.

Medical students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana played an important role at the call centre providing up-to-date and professional information to citizens of Slovenia.

The call centre was opened on 9 March, a few days before a disease outbreak. It was set up by the Government Communication Office in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Administration, the Civil Protection of the Republic of Slovenia and the Clinic for Infectious Diseases at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana to help residents find reliable information about the new coronavirus.

Since its beginning, senior students of the Medical Faculty, the University of Ljubljana (UL MF) helped callers daily with reliable information on the coronavirus, COVID-19, preventive and easing lockdown measures.

A total of 66 medical students worked as advisers at the call centre, that operated for three months and answered about 50,000 calls, which means that every 40th citizen received the necessary support.

This inspiring work could not be done without the professional mentorship of Prof Dr Mojca Matičič from the Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, UL MF.

Two doctors from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, representatives of the National Institute of Public Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Civil Protection of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government Communication Office were also available to the students for consultation.

 

President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor awarded the government call centre for information on the coronavirus the Apple of Inspiration .
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

The Apple of Inspiration award recipients. 
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA