Armed Forces transport swab samples taken from Roma communities to laboratory by Black Hawk helicopter
- Author:
- Photo:
- Date: 06.04.2020
- Share: Zdieľať na Facebook
As part of the SVK military's response to the spread of COVID-19, a SVK Air Force UH-60M Black Hawk multi-role helicopter, crewed by airmen of the Helicopter Wing Prešov, flew a mission to transport the nasopharyngeal swab samples taken over these days from residents of Roma communities to a laboratory for testing in Trenčín. As part of a second mission, a total of 29 swab samples were flown from Fiľakovo to Jelšava.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: "I am immensely pleased that our new air asset – the Black Hawk helicopter – can be called upon at times like these to offer assistance towards the benefit of SVK citizens. Also thanks to this, we can effectively provide air transport of medical material, including test kits and swab samples, which contributes to accelerating the process of testing." He noted the Armed Forces continue to stand ready to deal with the requests for assistance from the Central Crisis Staff as well as the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) tasks under domestic crisis management on a 24/7/365 basis.
Nearly 400 SVK Armed Forces members are currently deployed to assist the SVK Central Crisis Staff. Up to 200 soldiers have been involved in on-site sampling across Roma communities. For everything to go off smoothly, the process is overseen by CIMIC specialists from the Special Operations Forces, whereas the sampling itself is carried out by medical professionals from the Office of the SVK Armed Forces Surgeon General. Elsewhere, soldiers are performing assistance tasks at border crossings and hospitals.
Based on the requests for assistance from the SVK Central Crisis Staff, the SVK Armed Forces will be continuing their sampling efforts across the marginalised communities over the coming days. A total of 33 Roma communities are set to be subject to testing for COVID-19.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: "I am immensely pleased that our new air asset – the Black Hawk helicopter – can be called upon at times like these to offer assistance towards the benefit of SVK citizens. Also thanks to this, we can effectively provide air transport of medical material, including test kits and swab samples, which contributes to accelerating the process of testing." He noted the Armed Forces continue to stand ready to deal with the requests for assistance from the Central Crisis Staff as well as the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) tasks under domestic crisis management on a 24/7/365 basis.
Nearly 400 SVK Armed Forces members are currently deployed to assist the SVK Central Crisis Staff. Up to 200 soldiers have been involved in on-site sampling across Roma communities. For everything to go off smoothly, the process is overseen by CIMIC specialists from the Special Operations Forces, whereas the sampling itself is carried out by medical professionals from the Office of the SVK Armed Forces Surgeon General. Elsewhere, soldiers are performing assistance tasks at border crossings and hospitals.
Based on the requests for assistance from the SVK Central Crisis Staff, the SVK Armed Forces will be continuing their sampling efforts across the marginalised communities over the coming days. A total of 33 Roma communities are set to be subject to testing for COVID-19.
