The 90th Anniversary of General Hospital “Dr Radivoj Simonovic“ in Sombor was marked today. The event at the National Theater was attended by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine, Mr Sasa Todorovic, Mayor of Sombor, Dr Ferenc Vicko, State Secretary at the Ministry of health, Prof. Dr Vesna Kopitovic, Secretary of Health of Vojvodina, and it was hosted by Dr Milan Grba, general manager of the hospital.
General Hospital in Sombor was built with the money people of Sombor collected for the wedding of HM King Alexander I and Romanian Princess Maria (grandfather and grandmother of HRH Crown Prince Alexander). The People of Sombor collected 3,000,000 dinars on that occasion, and the Royal Couple gave this wedding present for the building of a hospital to improve public health, and added another 4,000,000 dinars. When soon after Crown Prince Peter II was born (father of Crown Prince Alexander), the hospital was built in the shape of Cyrillic letter of P (stands for Peter). Hospital was officially opened on 24 May 1925 as the “Hospital of King Alexander and Queen Maria”.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander addressed the gathering and said he was especially proud that his ancestors contributed to the founding of this very important health institution.
“My family has always helped health institutions in Serbia and I am very glad that this wonderful tradition continues today through the Humanitarian Foundation of my wife”, emphasized Crown Prince Alexander.
After the ceremony the Royal Couple visited the hospital’s department of gynecology and paediatrics, and gave presents to the children. On the occasion of 90th anniversary of the Sombor hospital, the Royal Couple will donate to this institution electric beds for the emergency department, gynecological tables, walkers, surgical instruments and clothes for children, a donation of Lifeline Chicago and Lifeline New York humanitarian organizations from the United States of America, whose Patron is Crown Princess Katherine.
Crown Princess Katherine Humanitarian Foundation has so far donated an ambulance, incubators and a warm table for babies among other things to General Hospital in Sombor.
