Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu expressed today her condolences for the death of Prof. Kalo.

“I heard with sadness the news of the death of prof. Isuf Kalo. I had the last conversation with the professor by mid-December, when I invited him to participate in one of those events that for the professor were a “weak spot”, the accreditation of health institutions. It was a process pioneered by the professor. It was his vision”, said Manastirliu in a post on social networks.

But, Manastirliu emphasized, “Professor Isul Kalo made a priceless contribution for Albanian medicine, in the Endocrinology service at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center QSUT for several decades”.

Prof. Isuf Kalo graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in 1964. He specialized in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases in China”.

A lecturer in the chair of Endocrinology, Prof. Kalo devoted himself to scientific research and academic career, receiving in 1983 the dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Medical Sciences on the topic “Glucose Hemoglobin Hb A1 in Diabetes Mellitus” and later pursued all levels of academic qualification until receiving the title of Professor Doctor.

In the period 1985-1991, at the head of the clinic and chair of Endocrinology and metabolic diseases, there took place a number of innovations, such as setting up of the first cabinet for therapeutic education of patients with diabetes as well as adapting western practices, both academically and hospital-wise.

Prof. Kalo completed a number of specializations abroad, in China, Romania, France, Switzerland and many other western countries.

Prof. Kalo was awarded the title “Outstanding Worker of Albanian Science”, as well as a founding member of the Albanian Academy of Arts and Science. Prof. Kalo was the first Albanian doctor on the permanent staff of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Copenhagen, as head of the European Program for Diabetes and the Department of Quality of Health Systems in Europe.

He was the founder of the National Center for Quality, Safety and Accreditation of Health Institutions, where he initiated contemporary visions, ideas and methods for our health system.

Prof. Kalo has been a World Bank consultant in health projects, a consultant to five Ministers of Health, a lecturer at the University of Dubrovnik, an expert of the Turkish Ministry of Health on the diabetes program.

Prof. Kalo is the author of many publications in the local and foreign medical press. He was an honorary member of international medical associations, as well as of certain European countries. /p.s./

“Nobody should underestimate vaccination, as the battle against the invisible enemy has yet to be won. With or without delta strain or other variants of Sars-Cov2/Covid-19, raising self-awareness and receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is a top priority in the efforts to protect the population’s health,” Kalo said.

Leading doctor put emphasis on the mandatory vaccination despite active immunisation after recovering from Covid-19, both symptomatically or asymptomatically.

“The vaccines used across the world and in Albania have different percentage effectiveness rate at preventing infection, yet what they share in common is the high percentage effectiveness at preventing severe illness and hospitalization,” Kalo said, appealing to citizens to receive the jab.

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In his remarks, Kalo said that, we won this battle with the global Covid-19 pandemic. It is too early to draw conclusions but the main thing is that we are on the right track to get out of the long pandemic tunnel, where we have been walking for 14 months since the evening of March 8-9, 2020.”

“Vaccination is helping us get out of this tunnel as soon as possible, so feel free to get vaccinated against Sars-Cov2/Covid-19 infection. The gossip and rumors against the vaccine will never stop. Love and respect yourself as much as possible, as well as those who live around you,” he concluded.//a.i/