145 employees of the Szent Rókus Clinical Block have received the Semmelweis Hero award certificate and porcelain plaque in recognition of their outstanding work in the fight against the coronavirus. The award certificate was handed over to the recipients by Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector, Dr. Attila Szabó, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs, President of the Clinical Center. In the framework of a ceremony, a wreath was laid by the statue of Ignác Semmelweis located in front of the Szent Rókus Clinical Block building.
“You all have undertaken an outstanding role in the fight against the coronavirus. The Szent Rókus Clinical Block has not only operated as a COVID care provider, a PCR screening center and one of the largest vaccination centers of the university, but in parallel, both chronic and nursing non-COVID patient care have also run uninterrupted here during the entire pandemic period”, Dr. Béla Merkely said.
The Rector added that all of this required an enormous ability to persevere and a remarkable sacrificial work from the staff members working here, but they managed to prove in a way worthy of Semmelweis citizens that for them, patients are the most important.
“I am extremely proud to lead such a cooperative, dedicated community as a rector”, Dr. Béla Merkely highlighted.
The Rector pointed out that the Semmelweis Hero award certificate was established in joint cooperation with Dr. Attila Szabó, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs, President of the Clinical Center in order to award all those staff members and students who participated in COVID patient care or provided background assistance for this work.
The award certificate and porcelain plaque were awarded to the 145 employees of the Szent Rókus Clinical Block for the first time, who have received their awards from Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector and Dr. Attila Szabó at Semmelweis Salon in the framework of a ceremony. On the occasion of Semmelweis Day, a wreath was laid by the statue of Ignác Semmelweis.
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During the pandemic year, almost 6,000 inpatients and 6,000 outpatients have been treated related to COVID-19 at Semmelweis University.
“We have proven that we were capable of reacting rapidly and having an exemplary perseverance even in situations requiring extraordinary efforts”, said Dr. Béla Merkely in his speech.
The Rector emphasized that this was the second time they had the opportunity to lay a wreath by the monument of the university’s namesake, as Szent Rókus Clinical Block has been part of Semmelweis University since 1 June, 2020.
“Integration has been tested in such an epidemiological situation that has not been seen in 100 years, but it passed the examination even among extraordinary circumstances. The merge of the two institutions was only under preparation during the first epidemic wave in 2020 spring, but in connection with the pandemic, cooperation began at the very first moment”, Dr. Béla Merkely pointed out.
He also added that more than 100 COVID patients have been treated at the Szent Rókus Clinical Block at the peak of the epidemic. In addition to PCR testing, one of the largest vaccination centers have been established here, where more than 2,000 vaccine jabs have been administered per day on average by staff members.
Afterwards a wreath was laid by the monument by Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector, Dr. Attila Szabó, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs and Ildikó Szili-Darók, Vice-Mayor. Dr. Zsolt Göböl, Director-General of the Szent Rókus Clinical Block also laid a wreath by the statue of Ignác Semmelweis.
Ádám Szabó
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
Translation: Katalin Illés-Romhányi
