HEALTH An anti-epidemic response with extreme hygiene measures: moving the maternity wards to another building is proposed Salmonella strikes infants The infection grips the maternity hospital ARMAND MERO TIRANA — A dangerous infection has gripped Tirana’s maternity hospital. Salmonellosis has reappeared at this hospital over the past nearly three weeks. Dozens of newborns have been hit by the epidemic, and there have also been deaths among them, although the exact figures are unknown and confirmation from bacteriological tests is awaited. All staff are on emergency footing, and extreme hygiene and sanitation measures were taken as soon as the disease first appeared. A special committee of specialists is proposing measures to keep the situation under control. Meanwhile, the idea of transferring all the maternity wards from the current building is being considered, because it is impossible to provide complete treatment for the infection there. The first sign of salmonellosis returning to the maternity hospital—which has been present at this hospital for several years and had reappeared previously, last May—came at the end of November, when a 10-day-old baby developed symptoms of diarrhea and weight loss. From this [sic] it spread, affecting many other children as well: first those who had been born several days earlier, and then the other babies. Some of them have also died, but the doctors are reluctant to tell the Albanian Gazette the exact number. Zhani Treska, the newly appointed director of the maternity hospital, said: “I immediately considered the situation an emergency, and numerous sanitation measures were taken.” All affected infants were placed in isolation in special rooms, while the others being born were moved to a new ward that has not yet been hit by the epidemic. The first floor of the building where deliveries take place has been closed off for disinfection. It has been ordered that babies leaving the hospital be closely monitored at home by staff from the health clinics. Meanwhile, all doctors and nurses working in the maternity wards have been prohibited from leaving those areas during working hours. Visitors from outside have been strictly barred from entering the hospital. The maternity hospital’s management now seems more reassured and says that it has the situation under control. Nevertheless, the danger has not passed. Salmonella infection has existed at this hospital for a long time, and only drastic action can eliminate it. Under the current circumstances, the measures taken can only contain it. For this very reason, the possibility of abandoning the current building and transferring the maternity wards to the capital’s other maternity hospital is being considered. UNICEF appeal to the Albanian Government “Iodine deficiency puts children at risk” TIRANA — The marked lack of iodine in the diet of the Albanian population has its most dangerous effects on children, in some cases hindering their normal mental development. This is the main concern raised by specialists from the mission of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Albania. In fact, this was one of the many issues discussed at a press conference organized by the UNICEF mission in Tirana to mark the publication of a handbook on the situation of children around the world in 1994. While other matters concerning children—such as vaccination, nutrition and infant mortality—show, according to UNICEF specialists, indicators that are acceptable for the time being despite existing difficulties, children’s lack of iodine intake is an alarming problem. To head off this risk, the Government is undertaking a study throughout the year setting out the need for residents to obtain iodine through table salt. This is a practice followed by many other developed countries, and it can be achieved at a much lower cost than what society would have to spend treating children—or people in general—for the symptoms caused by iodine deficiency in the body. The benefit is even greater when one considers that children’s health is priceless. (An. Ste.) ... and completely, and to gain weight. From there who had been born a few days earlier, and then even newborns just one day old. Some of them have also lost their lives, but those concerned are reluctant to state the true cause, also because the number of deaths among mothers is lower than usual. Only the results of tests from specialized laboratories will shed definitive light on the cause of the outbreak and its consequences. “I raised the issue from the very first case,” he explains Drastic measures could only contain it. This is precisely why the possibility of vacating capital’s other maternity hospital is being considered. But conditions there are not optimal either. Interruptions to the water and electricity supply are frequent. “This is the situation that encourages the spread of infections in hospitals,” says Treska, who has also submitted a special request to the prime minister. Meanwhile, the emergency continues at the hospital...

Dramatic episode in Section 313 of the capital Jailed over an accident: killed by his cellmate The victim is a 21-year-old young man from the city of Elbasan TIRANA — Tragedy in a cell. Wednesday’s arrival at Tirana Prison became the setting for an entirely unusual event. A 21-year-old from Elbasan, who had been detained by the police after a car accident on the streets of the capital, was found dead in one of the isolation cells. It was precisely another detainee, accused of “murder” and held in the same cell as the victim, who attacked him with a piece of brick, causing his death. The unusual incident immediately alarmed the prison authorities, who were unable to do anything for the 21-year-old, who was rushed to the Central Army Hospital. From that moment, the charges against the arrested “killer” were doubled, while military investigators immediately began an investigation, perhaps to verify the incident through the statements of prison staff who were on duty at the time of the tragedy. Although everything is being kept highly confidential because of the investigation, the first reports about the incident refer to the events of December 14. In one of the isolation cells, a detainee with the surname Cana, resident in a district of the capital, took the life of his cellmate, a 21-year-old from Elbasan. Although further details about what happened inside the cell are lacking, it is currently known only that the hard object used against the victim was a brick, perhaps removed from the cell wall. The motives that led the detainee to strike the victim are also unknown, although it is understood that this was not the result of some old dispute, since both men—the killer and the victim—appear to have lived in different cells in the prison and may have met for the first time in their lives in the cells of Tirana Prison. In any case, the mystery surrounding the incident inside a cell’s walls can be cleared up only through the investigation launched into detainee Cana, as well as the separate inquiry opened by the Military Prosecutor’s Office. (e. L)

“Pay us 10,000 lekë so you can get out of the fine” SHKODËR — Their greed for 10,000 lekë has cost them dearly. In the city of Shkodër, the inspector of the Financial Police has been detained together with three other people: the driver and two employees of the Public Order Police, on charges of abuse of office. The detention of Besnik Komi, 51, inspector of the Shkodër Financial Police; Lulzim Tufi, 38, the driver; and the Public Order Police officers Agim Halaj, aged 40, and Gjak Pecaj, 30, took place on Wednesday as well. According to confirmed sources in the Financial Police, the reason for their detention was the officers’ improper conduct during an inspection on November 18. On that date, all four detainees went to the Bushat fuel station to conduct an inspection. There they came into conflict with the station’s owner, Ludovik Doda. Doda had disputed the claims of the Financial Police inspector, who accused him of “irregularities” in his fuel-distribution business. Also, to avoid the consequences that could follow from this accusation, the trader offered all four of them 10,000 lekë. The “inspection” was to split this sum into four parts, and so both sides agreed. Ludovik Doda handed them the money, while intending not to let the matter end with that agreement. He immediately filed a complaint against Komi, Tufi, Halaj and Pecaj—all four residents of the city of Shkodër—with the Financial Police headquarters. Police employees assigned to investigate the case of their colleagues taking a bribe needed almost a month of work. It was precisely after this period had elapsed since the November 18 incident that it was decided to detain all four employees of the Financial Police and Public Order Police. Criminal proceedings have now been initiated by the investigative authorities. (Ar. Ça.)

After the PS complaint TIRANA — “The police acted in accordance with the laws, and if there are objections, then the fault lies with the law...”

SHKODËR — Their greed for 10,000 lekë has cost them dearly. In the city of Shkodër, the inspector of the Financial Police has been detained together with three other people: the driver and two employees of the Public Order Police, on charges of abuse of office. SHKODËR — parts, and so both sides agreed. Luvdoçi now been initiated by the investigative authorities. (Ar. Ça.)

TIRANA — “The police acted in accordance with the laws, and if there are objections, then the fault lies with the law.” In this rather laconic manner, Interior Minister Agron Musaraj concluded his interpellation before the deputies of the People’s Assembly concerning the performance of duties by the public order forces and the conduct of the November 6 referendum. TIRANA — In this rather laconic manner, Interior Minister Agron Musaraj concluded his interpellation before the deputies of the People’s Assembly concerning the performance of duties by the public order forces and the conduct of the November 6 referendum. It was the PS parliamentary group that had requested this interpellation and, through deputy Gramoz Ruçi, protested and sought explanations about difficulties in the proper conduct of the referendum in some areas. Deputy Ruçi accused several district police stations of violating the law, preventing the PS from holding rallies in open squares, and failing to intervene against groups seeking to sabotage PS meetings. He also spoke of the unlawful detention and mistreatment of members and supporters of his party by police forces. For his part, Minister Musaraj emphasized the police’s adherence to the law in order to ensure the normal conduct of the referendum. He rejected the accusations, stressing that the concerns raised at some polling stations had not involved the public order forces.

VLORË — The first “hotels” for clandestine migrants setting out for the shores of Italy have appeared in Vlora. There are nearly 30 caravan-style cabins, now installed along the Vlora beach, offering living conditions for all those waiting to travel to Otranto. The hotel cabins appeared in Vlora only a few days ago. Brought by an Italian trader, they were immediately bought and set up at two different locations. They are used like all hotels in

Albania, with different prices depending on the customers: for Albanians, one night costs only 200 lek, while foreigners — Turks, Kurds and Egyptians — have to pay a little more, 800 lek. They were immediately frequented; dozens of customers have not had to stay for long these past few days, since the sea has been very calm and the speedboat service has not stopped. The most regular customers, however, are foreigners, who are always forced to wait if the movements of the “Adriatic taxis” are restricted. In fact, their numbers have increased considerably lately, so much so that at the post office near the beach no language other than Turkish and Arabic can be heard. (St. Ma.)

Agreement signed with Italy TIRANË — The first official visit by the Veneto Region to Albania has concluded with the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Labor to finance commercial training for Albanians in Veneto and labor-related training. At the end of this meeting in Albania, Deleza [?], the administrative representative, who arrived from Shekson [?] as Vilia’s delegate, and the chairman of the Veneto Region Council, Mr. Paolo Pan, signed a cooperation agreement. In it, the Albanian minister and representatives of the main international organizations. The Ministry and a single institutional tax, which also trader. It emerged that those responsible had not been there, but a group of investors, followed by a group of artisans from PROVINCIA, VENETO, Minister Alfa work with all those mentioned STOC [?], UNIVET, their Ministry, directed toward a course and the training of Albanians for industry and trade. Mr. Xhepi and established a series of specified meetings and duties at the General Directorate of Labor and at the Ministry of Tourism and at the Employment Offices in Veneto, the operators’ representative, and MINET [?] has expressed determination and a desire for all Albanians to engage in trade and for the economic side of this agreement and the opportunities for vocational training with partners in the tourism sector. The project could be financed with general assistance from the Ministry of Labor [?] and the Minister of Tourism. Within the framework of the agreement ... (continues, illegible)

Sarandë, family offers a new reward SARANDË — The fate of Vincenzo Bruno, an Italian who disappeared at sea in the area between Sarandë and Corfu on September 3, remains a mystery. Now the family, from Naples, is making another appeal through the Albanian newspaper: “We are offering a large sum of money,” says the missing man’s sister, Anna Bruno, “with which we will reward anyone who brings us reliable news about Vincenzo’s fate. Our grief has no price, and we will be very generous to anyone who helps us learn the truth.” The Bruno family is providing a telephone number for information: 0089/??/??????. This 84-year-old man disappeared along with the large speedboat that sank far off the coast of Corfu. Two Greek citizens and an Albanian from Sarandë, Alket Metaj, were also with him. The Albanian and one of the Greeks, Mikala [?] Matani, managed to survive and reach the Albanian coast.

EC helps two Albanian families The families of Albanians who were victims of the major floods in Italy have received assistance from the European Community. It was the EC ambassador to Albania, Elio Germani [?], who distributed aid to the families of the two young men, Dorian Gjata from Durrës and Hadi Lek nikaj from Dobraci, and offered them, as a gesture of solidarity, a quantity of clothing and footwear and dollars. Gjermano donated [an amount of] money to the Gjata family and a further 30 million lire to the Leknikaj family. Arvanites from Greece in Tirana Arisht Kolla, chairman of the Association of Arvanites of Greece and editor-in-chief of the magazine “Besa,” has arrived in Tirana on an official visit to establish ties with Albanian cultural institutions. His visit is intended, in its first phase, to explore the possibility of contacts with several structures. Shkodër, petty thief caught A thief who had committed several thefts in his neighborhood has been caught by the Shkodër police.

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