Two Italian military doctors arrived at the Sarajevo International Airport on Thursday and will spend the next three months in the country supporting the UN and visiting hospitals to share their “first-hand knowledge and experience of dealing with the COVID-19 crisis,” the EUFOR Public Affairs Office said in a statement.

The doctors will also assist hospitals across the country in implementing the best practice to help local response to the pandemic.

They were met by Italy’s Ambassador in Bosnia, Nicola Minasi, Bosnia’s Civil Affairs Minister, Ankica Gudeljevic and the Senior National Representative for the Italian contingent in EUFOR, Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Nazzi.

“I am very happy to welcome my fellow countrymen to Bosnia and Herzegovina on behalf of EUFOR. I hope that they will be of great assistance to the hospitals and healthcare system in BiH,” Lieutenant Colonel Nazzi said.

The Italian doctors, Major G. Pasquale, from the ‘Pozzuolo del Friuli’ Brigade, in Gorizia, and Major T. Marino, from the ‘Julia’ Brigade, in Udine, “underwent special training at the main military hospital in Rome, learning from the experiences accumulated by the Italian armed forces during the crisis,” the statement said, adding that the doctors brought their personal protective equipment (PPE) for use during their stay to reduce reliance on local services.