December 22, 2020 – Unlike previous years, this year, the Istriana Award was not given to the most successful individuals in the fields of culture, music, health, science and education, economy and sports. Still, it was given to everyone who has been on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus in recent months.

As Istrian County reports, for the 13th time in a row, the Istriana Awards were held in the congress hall of the Park Hotel Histria in Pula, which due to the situation caused by the coronavirus, took place in a completely different way than before.

This year, the Istriana statuette, the work of the Pula academic sculptor Eros Čakić, went to the Department of Infectious Diseases and all health professionals of the Pula General Hospital.

Also, the award was given to the Istrian: Institute of Public Health, the Red Cross, the Institute of Emergency Medicine, the Civil Protection Service, the Istrian Health Centers, the Fire Brigade, the Police Administration, the County Mountain Rescue Service, and the hotel and tourism company Arena Hospitality Group which, immediately after the crisis arose, undertook a series of activities to help the local community cope with the new circumstances.

The winner of the special Istriana Award for great engagement, effort, and commitment is the Chief of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Istrian County Dino Kozlevac.

"These are the people who work long and hard shifts, 24 hours a day, because of the coronavirus. They are simply a pillar of the health care system. They are the heroes of the situation that befell us. This is our small contribution to express our gratitude to them, and to learn from their example what courage, optimism, and mutual support are," said the initiator of this project, Hina journalist Daniel Sponza, who thanked the Istrian County, but also all Istrian towns that, as every year, supported this project.

Addressing this year's laureates, the acting Istrian prefect Fabrizio Radin emphasized that the 13th Istrian was specific and that it was a matter of awarding prizes by category, as in previous years, it would be given up.

"When I learned that this year Istriana would be awarded to all those who are on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus, we did not want to give up because it is a big thank you for their risky role, which has no price. Thank you for your humanity and dedication," said Radin.

The Mayor of Pula, Boris Miletić, expressed his satisfaction that he was attending the Istriana Awards for the thirteenth time and congratulated all the laureates.

"When I was a child, I didn't understand the saying that a healthy person has a thousand wishes, and when an illness occurs, only one. Let's stay healthy and be responsible. Congratulations to the Istriana winners," said Mayor Miletić.

On behalf of the Commission for the Istriana Awards, the director of the Pula General Hospital, Dr. Irena Hrstić, addressed the Hippocratic Oath, whose fourth postulate obliges health professionals to dedicate their lives to patients. This year, for ten months, 24 hours a day, they do so.

On the eve of the award ceremony, a six-minute video was shown, which included the activities of all awarded institutions in the fight against COVID -19, while the young Istrian musician Tedi Grubica performed at the award ceremony. The host of the program was Kristijan Nemet. The event was held under the sponsorship of the Istrian County, all cities, and the Istrian Credit Bank Umag.

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