The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation delivered 32 modern ventilators to Ukraine. It is the largest batch of equipment brought to the country. The Foundation transferred six devices to Lviv Oblast

Today, jointly with DTEK,the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation transfered 6 modern ventilators to the doctors in Lviv Oblast. The delivery took place in Lviv Regional Phthisiopulmonological Clinical Diagnostic and Treatment Center.

The equipment was delivered within the framework of the project Fighting COVID-19 in Ukraine, which became part of the large program Rinat Akhmetov – Saving Lives.

"I am amazed by the heroism of all those on the ground, all united for the same goal. The round-the-clock work done by local authorities and all services deserve great credit. Furthermore, it is needless to say that the doctors' heroic attitude is striking. They risk their lives to save people, " Rinat Akhmetov said.

"The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has purchased and is now transferring  over 200 ultramodern ventilators in tranches to Ukrainian medical professionals. The Foundation has delivered 32 ventilators as part of this tranche. This is the largest batch that has crossed the border of Ukraine since the quarantine began.  These devices will be transferred to state hospitals in the regions by the end of June.

In total, Rinat Akhmetov sent 300 million UAH to save Ukrainian people combat the coronavirus. As it has previously agreed on with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the lion's share of this money is to be allocated to purchase ventilators.

"Modern ventilators are absolutely necessary equipment all over the world when referring to saving the lives of those who suffer from the complications caused by the coronavirus. Our country is no exception. Unfortunately, we had quite few of these devices  in Ukrain before the pandemic bagan. According to the Ministry of Health, the shortage of ventilators for reference hospitals was just over 200 units. The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation will give almost comparable numbers of devices to state hospitals in different regions of the country. It turned out that it is difficult to buy them due to global competition. And the delivery is even more difficult. Ten or more buyers made bids for one device, and at the level of governments of other countries. We have already delivered over 30 devices to Ukraine, and this is the largest batch of ventilators delivered to Ukraine since the quarantine began. We know it for certain that these devices are greatly expected by medical professionals. Especially now when the country is coming out of quarantine and the statistics show the increase of confirmed cases," Natalia Yemchenko, member of the Supervisory Board of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, said.

The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation decided to purchase highly automated, mobile portable ventilators. First, this decision was made so that doctors can start operating them as quickly and effectively as possible. Secondly, this step was taken to minimize the human factor in saving patients' lives.

Chairman of the Lviv Regional State Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, thanked the Foundation and the Founder for this contribution in the fight against the epidemic.

"The coronavirus situation is quite difficult. We record new cases every day. 49 cases were confirmed today. Unfortunately, Ukraine ranks among top countries with COVID-19. This is a big event for us today – we have six ventilators. Thank you very much!" Maksym Kozytskyi said.

Deputy Chairman of the Lviv Regional Council, Bohdan Hahaliuk, noted the significance of the assistance provided by philanthropists to the region:

"We are greatly delighted with the fact that Ukrainian philanthropists are helping Lviv Oblast to fight the coronavirus. Today's event is another confirmation of this. I would like to show my appreciation!"

Chief Doctor of the Lviv Regional Phthisiopulmonological Clinical Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Liubomyr Rak, noted that since the epidemic began, the medical facility headed by him has addmitted over 300 people who have serious underlying medical conditions from the coronavirus. Only the ventilators can save the lives of such patients.

"This equipment will help minimize the losses," Liubomyr Rak said.

General Director of DTEK Zakhidenergo, Oleh Tarashchuk, noted how important it was to unite the efforts of the public, business and government and thanked the doctors for their bravery, courage, perseverance, professionalism and dedication in the fight against coronavirus. The doctors who deal with COVID-19 were also provided with the certificates for sets of medical overalls by the Foundation. Doctors will be able to use the QR code to select the necessary custom-ordered clothing sizes. 

In addition, on behalf of the Foundation, Oleh Tarashchuk handed the certificates for anesthesiologists to provide training, which the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation held together with the Ministry of Health and the Association of Anesthesiologists of Ukraine, and teach them how to operate the latest versions of ventilators.

This was a three-hour webinar held in May where the leading experts of the Ministry of Health told the doctors of public hospitals the world's best practices in the treatment of COVID-19 and some details when operating the latest models of ventilators. More than 800 Ukrainian doctors took part in online training from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.

Ventilators from the Foundation have already been installed in the Poltava Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital, Rivne Central City Hospital and Zakarpattia Regional Hospital. The named hospitals in Poltava and Rivne also have oxygen concentrators for ventilators installed. A separate concentrator from the Foundation was delivered to the Volyn Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital. Medical facilities that have already received equipment from the Foundation were determined by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

Moreover, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation constantly provides necessary assistance to the medical professionals in Lviv Oblast in the fight against the coronavirus infection. Thus, 8,000 protective suits and almost 35,000 COVID-19 rapid tests, 30,000 of which are intended for patients, and about 5,000 for emergency physicians, were transferred to the regional main hospitals.

Fighting COVID-19 in Ukraine is a large-scale project of the Foundation created to help save people's lives. It is implemented within the framework of the program Rinat Akhmetov-Saving Lives. Earlier, Rinat Akhmetov launched 200 Ambulances for Ukraine which was was implemented as part of this program.  Back then, all regional state medical institutions received 200 special vehicles with state-of-the-art military equipment that can get over off-road conditions within the record time of six months. Moreover, 22 vehicles equiped with ventilators`for newborns were also delivered. This is the largest contribution made by one philanthropist to the state medicine of Ukraine since our country became independent. These days, many of these ambulances are involved in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic in all regions.

Learn more about the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation's assistance in Ukraine to fight the coronavirus here.