site.btaMilitary Medical Academy Staffers Awarded for Aeromedical Evacuation of Injured in March 16 Kocani Fire

The medical professionals from the Military Medical Academy (MMA) in Sofia who participated in the aeromedical evacuation of those injured in the March 16 nightclub fire in North Macedonia's Kocani to Bulgarian hospitals were awarded by the head of the MMA, Prof Ventsislav Mutafchiyski, the medical establishment said in a press release on Monday. 

On March 16, military medics from the Center for Aviation, Marine Physiology and Evacuation - Captain Radoslav Belchev, Senior Lieutenant Mihail Tsonev,  Senior Nurse Maria Borisova, Petty Officer Tsvetelina Ivanova, and Dr. Kremena Petrova - transported eight of the injured with the help of the pilots from Vrazhdebna Air Base. 

"Thanks to you and the professionalism you have demonstrated once again, you have confirmed the place of the MMA as an indispensable factor in such situations. Congratulations on the mission, you handled an extremely complex evacuation with patients in a serious condition," said Prof. Mutafchiyski during Monday's award ceremony.

Fifty-nine people died and more than 170 were injured after a fire broke out at the Pulse nightclub in North Macedonia's town of Kocani during a concert on March 16. Fifteen of the injured were transported to hospitals in Bulgaria by Spartan military transport aircraft and ambulances from the Sofia Emergency Medical Centre. On Sunday evening, Bulgarian Health Minister Silvi Kirilov said that all 15 patients are in a stable condition.