They need our support: the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation delivered COVID-19 tests for ambulance crews

According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, more than 3,800 medical workers have become ill with COVID-19 so far. This is a fifth part of the total number of all infected. Emergency physicians, who are often the first to come into contact with the infected, are the vulnerable. Therefore, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation purchased and transferred 20,000 COVID-19 rapid tests to seven emergency medical care regional centers. In the light of this, about 10,000 people are able to undergo testing in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr and Rivne Oblasts.

"Rapid tests aimed to detect the coronavirus infection take one of the leading positions among the basic medical needs. We are also making a contribution to provide safety precautions for the doctors by delivering personal protective equipment and tests. Supporting those who save lives is currently a very important task which the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation in helping to solve in our country. Moreover, the Foundation continues to search, find and purchase the most urgent and necessary healthcare resources that Ukrainian healthcare system lacks. First of all, modern medical equipment, which is critical to save people's lives," Natalia Yemchenko, a member of the Supervisory Board of the Foundation, said.

She recalled that according to the personal decision made Rinat Akhmetov, 300 million UAH have been financed to combat the coronavirus.

Health care workers claim that they were awaiting the tests eagerly. This assistance is more relevant than ever.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for its assistance. Many of our employees are in sore need of these tests, especially those living in rural areas," head of the Chernivtsi Regional Center of Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine, Yeleniev Volodymyr, said.

About 2000 ambulance workers are engaged to combat the coronavirus infection In Vinnytsia Oblast. Their protection is crucial.

"I would also like to express my sincere gratitude on behalf of all emergency physicians of the Vinnytsia Oblast. We should focus on the medical workers' occupational health, and such support promoted by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation bears evidence that our country has a future," chief of the Chernivtsi Regional Center of Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine, Anatolii Pirnykoza, said.

Through the assistance provided by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, those healthcare teams that work on the ambulances, which were received under the "200 Ambulances for Ukraine" project, will also be able to do the testing. Last year, 114 "ICUs on wheels”, 64 off-road vehicles and 22 neonatal vehicles equipped with Italian ventilators were delivered to Ukrainian hospitals in all oblasts of the country. These days, many of these ambulances are involved in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

 "This was a complete surprise for us. Five vehicles have been delivered in our center. Another four operate in other districts of the oblast. The problem with special transport is one of the major challenges, and these vehicles were its solution in large measure. It is very important that the cooperation went on further. These tests are another pleasant surprise for us," the chief doctor of the Rivne Regional Center of Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine, Andrii Bortnyk, said.