At the invitation of MU-Varna the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania in Bulgaria and Romania His Excellency Arvydas Pocius and his spouse Nemida visited the Museum of History of Medicine in Varna on 12th February.
They got acquainted with the history of the museum building by the curators and saw the expositions. Among the exhibits, there is a special place dedicated to the Lithuanian scientist, politician and activist in the National Revival movement of Lithuania, and one of the founding members of the Varna Medical Society, which this year has marked 135 years of its creation - Dr. Jonas Basanavicius.
In the Museum book, the diplomat wrote:
"As a Lithuanian, I take pride in the fact that Dr. Jonas Basanavicius, a great statesman, who contributed to the signing of the Act of Independence of Lithuania, also played a significant role in the Bulgarian society. His outstanding contribution to the medical community, the Bulgarian healthcare and the city of Varna is of great importance to our two nations.
On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Romania and Bulgaria, I would like to express my deep gratitude to all the staff of the Museum of History of Medicine at Medical University "Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov" - Varna for treasuring the memories of the great Lithuanian and Bulgarian patriot Dr. Jonas Basanavichius.
Thank you!"
He gave as a present a book about the history of Lithuania to the museum curators, which will be a part of the museum exhibitions, and which also contains some content about Dr. Basanavichius. H.E. Arvydas Pocius expressed his gratitude and respect for the people who have preserved over the years the artifacts about the great Lithuanian-Bulgarian activist. The head of the Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology Prof. Dr. Zlatislav Stoyanov also gave gifts to the guests on behalf of Medical University - Varna.
The diplomat said he was extremely impressed by the historic tour offered by the Museum and assured that he would take measures so that a greater number of his compatriots to have the opportunity to see the medical artifacts exhibited there.
The visit of H.E. Arvydas Pocius to our city was also related to the opening of a memorial plate dedicated to Dr. Jonas Basanavichius earlier during the day. On 16th February Lithuania will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Lithuania's Independence. Dr. Jonas Basanavichius was the first to sign the official document of Lithuania's Independence. He came to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian government and was appointed a District Doctor in Lom. In 1892 he became a senior physician at the therapeutic department of the Varna First Class Hospital. In 1894 he was appointed a quarantine physician, and after that - a Varna City Doctor. He was also an author of the project for "raising the city in therapeutic and cultural terms". He was a doctor of high social consciousness, a member of the Bulgarian Literary Society (now Bulgarian Academy of Sciences), and one of the most prominent socially active personalities in our city.
The monument is situated at 3 "Krastyo Mirski" Str.
