President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will undergo therapy for acute back pain.
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović fell ill on Sunday during a mass for the homeland at the Zagreb Cathedral, which was a consequence of problems with her spine. She felt weak for a moment, but she did not see a physician afterwards. Later in the day, the President attended a reception on the occasion of the Statehood Day where she gave a speech, reports Jutarnji List on June 26, 2017.
The President is expected to begin therapy in one of the hospitals in Zagreb or surrounding region as early as today. Late last week, her office announced that a spinal disc herniation had been diagnosed to the President. Physicians have recommended her to reduce her official activities and to start with physical therapy. However, previously scheduled commitments culminated last week, when then President travelled to Belgrade to attend the inauguration ceremony for Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and later went to Vukovar and Slavonski Brod.
Earlier on Sunday, she visited the Mirogoj cemetery in Zagreb where she laid wreaths and then went to the cathedral for mass. She fell ill there due to the pain, as well as due to high temperature and humidity in the cathedral. She left the church and did not attend a reception at the Islamic Centre in Zagreb on the occasion of the end of Ramadan. She instead went home to rest so that she could attend the Statehood Day reception at the Office of the President.
President’s health problems started earlier with pain in her lower back, which later spread to the neck and right arm. However, it is believed that surgery will not be necessary at this point. Physicians have recommended the President to try not to sit or stand for too long, in order to spare her spine.
Although it is not officially known where the therapy will be provided to the President, according to the unofficial information that could be the St. Catherine Special Hospital in Zabok near Zagreb, where the President was already treated once before, or perhaps at the Clinical Hospital Centre in Zagreb.
