The role of the Serbian armed forces in humanitarian health action and fight against biological threats

Abstract

Due to the specific resources, available to all armies of the world within their stipulated missions, such armies play an important role in the fight against biological threats, especially the potentially most dangerous, bioterrorism. The real threat of misuse of biological agents and the possible consequences of asymmetric threats to public health, society, agriculture, economy and political stability has clearly been recognized in recent years. The Republic of Serbia is committed to giving its contribution to the global fight against this danger, given the experience it has in the care and treatment of infectious diseases, primarily of a zoonotic character that are present in our geographic area, as well as the response to crisis situations which create favorable conditions for the spread of infectious diseases. The Serbian Armed Forces and its capacities in the field of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear services, and its medical and veterinary services which have a long tradition and experience is ready to actively participate in the implementation of the measures of prevention and response in the case of biological threats contributing to the civilian community, medical services, and society as a whole in order to protect the life and health of the population.

Usled posebnih izvora dostupnih svim armijama sveta u okviru ostvarenja svojih strateških zadataka, one igraju značajnu ulogu u borbi protiv bioloških pretnji, naročito onih potencijalno najopasnijih―bioterorizma. Danas postoji stvarna pretnja zloupotrebe bioloških agenasa čije bi posledice predstavljale asimetričnu pretnju javnom zdravlju, društvu, poljoprivredi, ekonomiji i političkoj stabilnosti, i ona je jasno prepoznata tokom nekoliko prethodnih godina. Republika Srbija je opredeljena da da svoj doprinos globalnoj borbi protiv ove opasnosti polazeći od iskustva koje ima u prevenciji i tretmanu zaraznih bolesti, prvenstveno onih sa životinjskim poreklom prisutnih u našoj geografskoj oblasti. Ona ima spreman odgovor i u kriznim situacijama koje stvaraju pogodne uslove za širenje zaraznih bolesti. Oružane snage Srbije sa svojim kapacitetima u hemijskoj, biološkoj, radiološkoj i nuklearnoj oblasti, kao i dugogodišnjom tradicijom i iskustvom u pružanju medicinskih i veterinarskih usluga, spremne su aktivno da doprinesu primeni mera prevencije i odgovora u slučaju bioloških pretnji, pomažući civilnoj zajednici, medicinskim službama i društvu u celini, sa ciljem zaštite života i zdravlja stanovništva.