Rinat Akhmetov passes on 50 000 rapid tests to Donetsk Region to detect COVID-19

Today, on 7 April, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation passed on 50,000 coronavirus rapid tests to Donetsk Region. The total score to the Stabilization Foundation established by the President of Ukraine to fight coronavirus was 300,000 tests for the entire country. 

300 million UAH were sent to Ukraine to fight COVID-19, according to the personal decision of Rinat Akhmetov.

The transfer of tests to the governing body of  Donetsk Region took place in Kramatorsk. Then they will be transported to the state medical institutions of Kramatorsk, Mariupol, Druzhkivka, Konstantinovka, Pokrovsk, Dobropolia, Slaviansk. 

A total of 25 localities in all corners of Donetsk Region will receive rapid tests which have proven to be the fastest way to detect COVID-19.

The whole world is now fighting an unprecedented coronavirus epidemic. The Founder gave directions to the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation to join this struggle when neither in Ukraine nor the United States and Europe fully understood the scale of the impending disaster. Testing is one of the main tools to contain the epidemic now. Therefore, the Foundation has already delivered 300,000 rapid tests to the country in order to detect the infection. They have been transferred to the Ministry of Health, which distributes them among state hospitals throughout the country. This is the largest batch of diagnostic materials within the framework of the Foundation's program to combat coronavirus in Ukraine ," Natalia Yemchenko, a member of the Supervisory Board of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, said.

Oleksandr Vyshnyakov, a representative of SCM businesses in the Donetsk Regional Headquarters combating  coronavirus, personally handed over certificates for these rapid tests to Pavlo Kyrylenko, Chairman of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.

"The state has focused on confronting the pandemic. Thus, I am pleased to note that big business companies support these efforts and understands their social responsibility. Our country and the world are facing a difficult challenge. We can only answer it and pass this time with minimal losses by combining the efforts of the entire society. I would like to express my gratitude to all those who provide assistance. We really appreciate the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for transferring these tests, which we are passing to our medical institutions today – they will help doctors identify patients faster so that they can promptly provide all the medical care they need," Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

"Rinat Akhmetov joined the efforts of all SCM businesses, the Charity Foundation and FC Shakhtar in order to help Ukraine combat coronavirus. Our companies have associated with regional anti-crisis headquarters in four regions, including Donetsk Region. This is the industrial centre of the country and health of the Ukrainian economy depends on its work. We are transferring 50,000 rapid tests wishing that most of them would show negative testing results. Furthermore, I am certain that our steel workers, power engineers and miners will help the country to survive in such a difficult time," Oleksandr Vyshniakov said.

Mayor of Kramatorsk Andrii Pankov thanked the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for its assistance.

 "We want to express special gratitude to the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. Since 2014, we have been engaged with the Foundation, which has generously provided us with humanitarian assistance and continues to do so today. We also express our gratitude to the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for the substantial and necessary work that it is doing during this difficult time," Andrii Pankov said.

Back in February, Rinat Akhmetov gave directions to the Foundation to be the first in the country to respond to the global threat of a coronavirus epidemic. The equipment to effectively treat the complications caused by COVID-19 – the Swedish SERVO-I UNIVERSAL and SERVO AIR high-end ventilators and oxygen concentrators – has already been purchased and transferred to the Ministry of Health.

In particular, ventilators from the Foundation have 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. The number of medical facilities that have already received equipment from the Foundation was determined by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

  The Foundation also purchased personal protective equipment for Ukrainian doctors: EgoZlin biobag EBV – a unique insulating mobile box to transport infectious patients; EOBO-20 EgoZlin – a protective biological and anti-chemical suit with filter and ventilation set; anti-chemical disposable overalls; infrared thermometers with a laser pointer; multilayer respirators;  protective masks and goggles. 

  Another 22 ventilators were installed in neonatal ambulances and transferred by the Foundation to all regions of the country as part of the “200 ambulances for Ukraine” project. 

The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has also purchased coronavirus sample analyzers with test cartridges for them to be delivered to Donetsk Region.

In partnership with the Ministry of Digital Development, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation created educational TV-series for teachers (“Quarantine: Online Services for Teachers”) and schoolchildren (“Digital Physical Education for Schoolchildren with Sport Stars”).

The video courses are posted on the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation's Facebook page and Youtube channel.

Jointly with TRK Ukraina, the Foundation created social videos urging older people to comply with the rule of thumb during the quarantine – Stay at Home. The TRK Ukraina TV-presenters and the ambassadors of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation – Ihor Pupkov, Oleh Paniuta, Hryhorii Herman, Oleksii Sukhanov and the famous journalist Savik Shuster – engage in the videos hag tagged #ParentsATHOME.