The INTPO initiators from Scandinavia have over the last 3 years been working on a vision to establish a combined international center for rehabilitation and monitoring of children in need and for veterans. This include children from war and conflict zones like for instance from East Ukraine or from the Middle East, or children from natural disaster areas like for instance the earthquake areas in Italy or from the areas in Thailand and Indonesia that were hit by the Tsunami. In addition it includes international veterans from different war and conflict zones or veterans from peacekeeping missions around the world. "INTPO`s visison is to establish an international rehabilitation and knowledge center for treatment of both veterans and children of all ages and in various physical and mental health condition!"
INTPO has secured a well suited location in the southern parts of Europe, more precisely in Igalo, Montenegro. The location contents of an existing hotel and health complex. INTPO has now reached and signed an agreement with the Government of Montenegro regarding a Joint Venture project to upgrade and take over this complex and to customize the facilities to our vision for both the new "Children in Need rehabilitation center" and the "International Veteran Center & Institute". In addition the new Igalo rehabilitation center will also offer health and rehabilitation programs for other groups of patients and health travelers in a similar way as the Igalo complex offers today. The location in the region of Herceg Novi in Montenegro is ideal for such a center, both because of the obvious good climatic conditions and the proximity to 2 different international airports; Dubrovnik airport just across the boarder to Croatia and Tivat Airport in Montenegro. Both airports are approximately a 30 minutes drive away from the Igalo Complex. The existing Igalo Spa Complex consists of a large hotel facility with a total of approx. 750 rooms and a large land plot with well suited recreational areas and direct access to the beach in this end of the Bay of Kotor. The main buildings on the premises are fully operational today and a major number of the guests are patients on health and rehabilitation stays. Other parts of the buildings on the premises have been closed on and are not in daily use, including the former children institute. Out of the approx. 750 employees at the Igalo complex 320 of them are working in the department that covers medicine, rehabilitation, health, activities and exercise. This includes for instance doctors, psychologists, therapists, nurses in addition to activity and sports staff. Within the staff at the complex they have accumulated long experience and broad knowledge regarding rehabilitation and medical treatment for a number of different ailments, conditions, injuries and mental issues. Oslo University Hospital (Rikshospitalet) in Oslo is already sending approx. 800 patients annually on health and rehabilitation stays at the Igalo Complex. An average health and rehabilitation stay last for 28 days (4 weeks). This rehabilitation program for guests and patients from all over Europe will also be a part of the new Igalo Complex and the service is likely to be even better after the modernization and upgrading of the facility. INTPO believes that the Igalo Spa Comples is a perfect facility to develop into our vision for a rehabilitation center for both veterans and children in need! Included in the varied treatment and rehabilitation offers at the existing Igalo Spa Complex today is a children program mainly focusing on children from Montenegro. This children program was originally established in 1958 for children from all over Ex-Yugoslavia. Over the years since then there have been several different treatment and rehabilitation programs at the complex, like for instance a program for treatment and rehabilitation for children from Libya in the 1980s. In addition to the more medical part of the different children programs Igalo has been focusing on learning, children nutrition, educational games and activities for both the children and their families. Remember that these are children form different conflict, war or other catastrophe situations who also have an important need for normalizing their lives and experience some happiness and fun in an else hard reality for many of them. During the war on Balkan it was in the period of 1992 - 1996 established a children program named "Children in Need" for children from the war and conflict areas in the Ex-Jugoslavia. This program was managed by the Norwegian Red Cross and their representativ Mr. The program had technical support from UNICEF and was mainly financed by the Norwegian Government. In addtition to rehabilitation and treatment of both physical and mental ailments and traumas for these childrens, the program also contributed to reduce interethnical issues and conflicts between the people of Balkan and secured important knowledge on how to treat and monitor children who had experienced serious war and conflict situations. Lars Dahlen will assist INTPO and local authorities in Montenegro throughout the establishment of the new international "Children in Need center" at Igalo. Dahlen has over many years also cooperated with the management team for the Igalo complex through his position in the municipality of Kristiansand in Norway regarding a rehabilitation program for the employees in the municipality. The main buildings at the premises of Igalo Spa complex was constructed in the 1980s, while the older buildings date back to the 1950s and 1960s. Even if the Igalo Spa complex is operational today there is a severe need for modernization and upgrading. This includes not only maintenance and refurbishing of the buildings, but also replacement of technical equipment for the medical and rehabilitation programs, modernization of activity and exercise facilities in addition to the recreation areas on the premises. Especially the older buildings is in a severe condition and parts of the buildings might need to be demolished and rebuilt. Futhermore it has to be invested in the staff at the facility to raise the overall level of knowledge and expertise regarding treatment and rehabilitation of children through different courses and continuing education programs. Together with the Government of Montenegro and the other cooperating partners for the project INTPO will now start the process for the project development, define all required upgrading and investment needs, prepare architectural pre drawings, establish a competent project management group and start the search for international political and financial support for the project from different governments, humanitarian organizations, funds, investors and other to realize this unique project. "Together we can make the life of veterans and children who has experienced horrible life situations much better and perhaps give them a future worth believing in!"
