This week Ukraine marks the World Anaesthesia Day. This is also an important day for the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, as the emergency medicine support is one of the priority areas of the organisation.
Projects and Programmes Director of the Foundation Iryna Blazhan stated: “The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation is the largest private charitable initiative in Ukraine, implementing system-wide and large-scale projects in different areas. Inspired by own achievements and the global charity expertise, the Foundation has been working to change the country’s medicine for the better. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Ukraine, Rinat Akhmetov was the first to give a helping hand. He allocated over UAH 450 million towards the COVID-19 Fight in Ukraine project, a part of the Rinat Akhmetov – Saving Lives programme. This is the most substantial, systemic, and extensive private initiative aimed to help public medical institutions fight the new disease. The base hospitals across the country promptly received 207 ventilators, over 300,000 rapid lateral flow tests, more than 200,000 units of personal safety equipment and consumables, as well as 155 oxygen concentrators. Overall, the Foundation helped 500+ medical institutions country-wide.”
She emphasised that the scale of this support effort was unprecedented, and the COVID-19 Fight in Ukraine project improved the quality of healthcare services in the country.
It is not the first time that the medical workers have received support from the Foundation. On the initiative of Rinat Akhmetov, the Foundation implemented a unique project, 200 Ambulances for Ukraine, within the shortest time possible. Public healthcare institutions throughout Ukraine received 114 emergency ambulances, 22 neonatal ambulances, which are specially equipped to provide a mobile neonatal intensive care environment for babies, and 64 unique off-road ambulances to work in the most remote locations of the country. The project helped improve the quality of emergency medicine in Ukraine.
One of these vehicles has become a reliable helper for the medical workers at Khortytsia first aid ambulance station in Zaporizhia. Using the vehicle, the rapid response team can help battle the pandemic. The ambulance is well-equipped with the high-quality supplies, consumables, and equipment, which is critical for saving the lives of patients as every minute counts.
“With the assistance of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, we replaced the old ambulance with a new, comfortable and well-equipped vehicle. We are grateful that you have heard and helped us. Now we can be quickly on the scene to save people’s lives,” stated the Deputy Chief of the First Aid Ambulance Station Anatoliy Sydorenko and his colleague Iryna Molchanova.
The Foundation gives special attention to modern medical trends as well. Three online conferences have been held with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Healthcare and the Association of Anaesthesiologists of Ukraine. The leading anaesthesiologists and ICU staff of regional public hospitals shared their practices of COVID-19 treatment. Over 3,000 Ukrainian medical specialists took part in the online training events organised by the Foundation. Jointly with the Ministry of Digital Transformations, the Ministry of Health, and the Association of Anaesthesiologists of Ukraine, the Foundation produced the video series COVID-19: What You Need to Know About Ventilators. The project helped medical specialists to master quickly the cutting-edge medical equipment, in particular modern ventilators.
