The battle against cholera continues

We draw attention to this The epidemiologist, Dr. Azmi Dibra, who, after three days and three nights of intensive work at the Institute of Hygiene, was the first to say: It is cholera! Very soon he may also announce the emergence of another epidemic—enteric typhus. This renowned doctor, whose name is being written in almost all the world’s encyclopedias because of his discovery of “Salmonella Dibra,” is now extremely busy at work. His “laboratory” has moved to Berat and Kuçovë; for greater certainty, he will also return to tests for typhus. The first warning signs at the Institute of Hygiene to take this problem seriously have arrived. This epidemic is spread by the red louse, which is thought to have come to Albania through the trade in clothes and old rags carried on by the Roma, from the many clothes that regularly end up in the sack of [?] (garbage bags), and, why not, from the “aid” left in stock at needy churches and mosques, arriving from various associations as humanitarian aid for Albania. Given their extremely low prices—10, 20, 30 lekë—poor Albanians rush to buy them without knowing that they are risking their own health, as well as that of whoever will wear them. What makes this fact even more worrying is their being dumped in the street, amid mud and garbage, “which makes the spread of the louse that carries typhus evident.” So far, this disease, forgotten by the world, has not yet struck us—but who knows whether it will not plague us tomorrow? By tomorrow it will be too late to prevent it. Tomorrow, its price will be far too high!

Shkodër: The doubts many citizens in Shkodër had about the chlorination of drinking water were addressed in a special program prepared by Radio Shkodra on Friday afternoon. Dr. Merzuk Hoxha stated that these days we are analyzing drinking water up to 10 times a day, taking samples for this purpose from different points in the distribution network. He also emphasized that chlorination has been intensified by increasing the dose as needed. Hoxha said, therefore, there is no need to worry about the water from a few days ago, because it was chlorinated by the water supply company. Meanwhile, the director of public health, Ms. Pranvera Belinova, emphasized that a special ward has been placed on standby at the infectious diseases hospital to treat patients who may be affected by cholera. All the necessary medicines have been secured. In the city of Koplik, however, the overflow of sewage remains a problem, and according to the tests conducted, the drinking water is not chlorinated. The district health directorate has sent two of its representatives to the Hani i Hotit branch to check entries into Albania. At 11 o’clock they went to the bacteriological laboratory in Shkodër. This turns out to be the first specialized institution that tests for diseases of this kind. They told us there: “In fact, we have conducted many tests in recent days, but so far no one has tested positive for an infection.” Nevertheless, a representative from this institution will be sent to Tirana to receive some more important instructions from the Ministry of Health. The fact that remains troubling at this laboratory is that it has water for only one hour a day, while at other times it goes 24 hours without interruption without water [?]. MUSA KURTULAJ

At the Hani i Hotit customs post This became known yesterday in the early morning hours, in the city of Shkodër and in the district of Malësia e Madhe. Dozens of citizens from these two…

Përmet —Two more admitted to Përmet hospital— Përmet A threatening situation —Two more admitted to Përmet hospital— Two people from Çarshova, Përmet, are admitted to hospital. Patients are arriving from a wedding in Lapardha, Berat, showing signs of diarrhea. The head of the infectious diseases ward, Dr. Koço Dhimitri, under… [text continues, cut off]

In focus this week Do they contribute to the climate needed for dialogue? In focus this week Reactions and counterreactions, Tirana–Athens Do they contribute to the climate needed for dialogue? There were expectations that Albanian-Greek relations would improve, at least over the past two years, but this did not happen. In the political sphere they have experienced major fluctuations. (In the economic sphere, these relations have continued, including the large number of Albanian refugees in Greece.) The past two years have been marked by the deepest roots of relations between the two countries; the first, as we recall, began with a priest and continued with the expulsion of more than 30,000 Albanian refugees from Greece. It seemed as if the first crisis had passed, but the crime committed by a terrorist commando that came from Greek territory against two Albanian soldiers further diminished hopes for relations between the two countries. The incident drove relations to their lowest point with the expulsion of five Albanian citizens of Greek origin, “for spying on behalf of the Greek secret services.” Greece reacted in an inhumane manner, forcibly expelling nearly 60,000 Albanian refugees, closing the Greek border to Albanians for more than a week, including members of the minority, and completely suspending the issuance of Greek visas. After these inhumane Greek reactions, diplomatic circles in Tirana and Athens thought that the reactions and counterreactions had been brought to an end. Nothing else was expected except the intervention of a third party to thaw the ice and reopen diplomatic channels. It seemed that some signs had indeed appeared. Following criticism from other EU members, especially Germany and Britain, of Greece’s role in the Albanian-Greek crisis, Athens reopened the border gates just a little for Albanian citizens; the Greek consulate in Gjirokastër resumed issuing 10–15 visas a day to members of the minority, who are, after all, Albanian citizens. According to the foreign press, Greece has offered Albania aid with... (Continued on page 4)

At the Migjeni Theatre Twenty-five years ago, the great composer Prenk Jakova died in the city of Shkodër. The death of this rare musician was mourned throughout Albania. In the history of our music, he has been described as the composer of the first Albanian opera, «Mrika». Precisely to honour the memory of the great artist, Preng Jakova, a mass was held on Friday afternoon at the cathedral church, attended by dozens of worshippers. In addition, the symphony orchestra of Radio Television, in cooperation with the «Migjeni» Theatre, gave a vocal-symphonic concert in honour of Preng Jakova’s life and work. Hundreds of art lovers from Shkodër attended the concert in the hall of the «Migjeni» Theatre. M. K.

Reliable sources agree that the branch of the Agricultural Bank in Bulqizë has prepared documents for a loan exceeding eighty million lek (old lek), a loan intended to alleviate, at least somewhat, the extreme poverty that has engulfed this town, where unemployment and job losses are at the very extremes of poverty. Many borrowers say that Jonus-Alliu, the bank director, has shut himself inside his home in Fushë-Pulizë, a house that has become an impregnable fortress for the borrowers, who (not clearly audible) have offered 10 percent or more in bribes in exchange for the loan they will receive. The talk spreading about «tips» and «bribes» would be dismissed as «street gossip» if those few million lek were distributed not over 7–8 years, as is apparently intended, but to five times as many ordinary people who truly need them to climb out of the absolute poverty that has gripped them. They should be distributed quickly, rather than «burning» the money and the people who are asking for it. A. A.

This became known early yesterday morning in the city of Shkodër and in the district of Malësia e Madhe. became known early yesterday morning Malësia e Madhe. Dozens of residents from these two districts, who had spent the night near the Hani i Hotit border crossing, were not allowed by the Montenegrin authorities to enter Montenegro, even though they had valid passports and visas. The Montenegrin authorities justified this action as a preventive measure to limit the spread of cholera. We recall that this measure had been anticipated the day before, when Montenegrin customs officers had worn white gloves to inspect Albanian citizens. The Ministry of Health of Montenegro also... (Continued on page 3)

Peshkopi CHOLERA ALERT The frightening cholera scare has reached the outskirts and even the town of Peshkopi. A man from Berat who arrived in Peshkopi has become the focus of fear and panic over cholera. It is reported that the man, suffering from severe diarrhoea and vomiting, was treated at Peshkopi hospital for two days and is now being transferred to Tirana hospital, then sent on to Berat. It is therefore presumed that cholera has knocked on the gates of this distant mountain town, gates which our state has left open through its utter lack of control over the movement of food and goods and its lack of quarantine. A. A.

— Two more patients at Përmet hospital — Two people from Çarshovë, Përmet, have been admitted to hospital. The patients came from the wedding in Lapardha e Beratit and showed symptoms of diarrhoea. has expressed his concerns. Because there is no microbiology laboratory technician, the diagnosis of the first patient has still not been confirmed. The Ministry of Health has been notified, but so far it remains silent. In the doctor’s view, the first patient is a carrier of cholera. Everyone in the district has been mobilised. The district council has been asked urgently to remove stray dogs and cats from the town, where in Këlcyre they have acquired the rights of citizenship. But urgent measures are lacking. Thus, in the neighbourhood near the hospital, two pits where sewage pipes have been exposed are still open. The situation is most catastrophic in the Mejden neighbourhood. Private individuals dig sewage channels and pits and use their faeces to fertilise vegetables. They consume these not only themselves but also serve them to the public. This area is favourable to cholera, as it is also affected by typhoid. Another problem: at the pharmacy of Përmet hospital, only injectable serums for intravenous infusion are prepared, but they cause reactions. The Ministry of Health, although notified, remains silent once again. There is no tetracycline for the hospital, and no serum. These are also lacking in the town’s pharmacies. Drinking water in Këlcyrë is not chlorinated. In many villages, there is no question of chlorinating the water drawn from wells. Rrjedhë, infected with jaundice and with dozens of patients admitted, is a problem, as people consume water from wells. The public toilets in both towns lack water and chlorination. The gardens around the apartment blocks have become rubbish dumps. The preparedness of the hospital’s infectious diseases ward is exemplary. The staff, kitchen and laundry are separate, while drinking water is available only here, on the first floor, until the early morning hours. The hygiene and sanitation organisation, local authorities and police need to take more action. The Ministry of Health is urgently asked to intervene and assess the serious situation that has developed in Përmet. LLAZI PRILLO

Korçë Does Korçë have holidaymakers? It seems the world is taking this cholera outbreak that is overrunning our country more seriously than we are. Television stations in Greece, Macedonia and Italy, at least those we watch here in Korçë every night, are devoting entire minutes to the alarming situation in Albania. They are even going further, highlighting concerns about the outbreak of this epidemic as they show the condition of our hospitals, the sewage and the streets taken over by shops and kiosks that have nothing but the name. The alarm has also been sounded for holidaymakers from Korçë, but they seem unwilling to hear this warning bell; they want to fulfil their plans and set an example while giving in to legitimate panic. (Continued on page 2)

THE HOTBEDS ARE OPEN AND VERY NEARBY... Although people speak of the great danger cholera poses to Albania, of lives lost to the disease, of dozens and hundreds of people filling hospitals, and of a nationwide alarm that has crossed the sea, here in Tirana people speak optimistically of «cholera being contained», «cholera being defeated», «cholera being no more!» . Let us hope that is so; there is absolutely no reason either to panic or to deny the work being done these days by health institutions, doctors and other health-service personnel in Kuçovë, Berat, Tirana and elsewhere. But one concern remains. Even if one focus of this deadly infection has been closed, others remain open and can pose a risk in every corner of the country. It is unnecessary to point out that our citizens, along with them, are surrounded by the basements of the old shelters beneath apartment blocks, which have become foul and turned into lairs for mice and breeding grounds for mosquitoes, filth and rubbish dumps, as well as open sewage channels, etc. Our colleague in the television programme «Advice for Everyone» rightly mentioned these things, but by addressing everyone, they end up being addressed to no one. There is much to say to the many bodies responsible: enterprises, inspectorates, control services, which are no longer lacking, and government authorities at every level. Do they not see that these things are far away? No. They are there, as if to remind us that infection hotspots—and why not now cholera too—are spreading toward the centre. There are many of them in Tirana today. Look behind the National Museum, opposite the «Piaçini» shopping complex. Two days ago the drains had overflowed onto the surface, and their stench made it impossible to pass. Indeed, the hotbeds are still open! The Observer

On 16 September 1994, the Presidium of the National Committee of LANÇ Veterans held an enlarged meeting of the National Committee, attended by the chairpersons of the veterans’ committees of Albania’s districts and other invitees. On behalf of the Presidium, the report «Let us respond to new situations with new tasks, wisdom and determination» was delivered by Qamil Poda, Secretary-General of the National Committee. Comrade Pirro Dodëbiba, Chair of the National Committee of LANÇ Veterans, in his conclusions clarified the principled position of the Veterans’ organisation on the many pressing current problems that have arisen between the organisation and the authorities of the time. Representatives of the veterans at the grassroots level from 23 districts spoke and expressed their views. Those present approved the material presented on the positions taken by the Presidium of the National Committee regarding the unconstitutional actions and decisions of the Government, and unanimously expressed their willingness to work toward resolving various problems and further improving the organisation’s work. This jubilee year, veterans and district committees have been engaged in intensive and productive work, which has continued to grow. The organisations have been strengthened and have become more combative. In all the country’s districts, the achievements are concrete, and there has been dedication to commemorating the events and dates of LANÇ. (Continued on page 4)

- Scheduled to last two days, but due to ... in Tirana ... * * * - The fact that ... in Albania ... * * * - ...

- By now, ... has ended in Tirana * * * - In Tirana ...

- Reports state that 104 Greek dignitaries from Athens, Mid... and others ... * * * - Since ... * * * - Amid the ... «Month of Cholera», various specialists ... * * * - The ... for those travelling in the Northern district * * * - For several days at the ... points of fur...

- ... arrested 820, sentenced 170; * * * - In Dukagjin, for the third time, the bell of the Abati church tolls ... * * * - In Malakashtrë, the division of land is nearing completion. In 85 villages ...

- At the 25th Congress ... * * * - After the first ... in ... * * * ... of the relevant documentation.