Kostiantynivka received modern ventilators from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation

On 11 June,  jointly with SCM, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation transferred two ventilators to the doctors of Kostiantynivka Infectious Diseases Hospital. This is part of the largest batch of ventilators brought to Ukraine since the epidemic began. 32 out of 200 devices purchased by the Foundation were delivered to the country in early June. They are distributed among the main hospitals in six Oblasts. 

"The devices were sent to the hospitals that require them the most — to the hospitals with no modern ventilators since they can save the lives of patients there," Natalya Yemchenko, member of the Supervisory Board of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, said.

Secretary of the Kostiantynivka City Council, Yuriy Rozumnyi, noted that COVID-19 has become a problem for all mankind, and it can only be controlled through joint efforts. He expressed his gratitude to the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for helping Ukrainian doctors fight the epidemic.

"There are a lot of organizations that are involved in eliminating the consequences or preventing the negative consequences of this disease. However, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation is the most effective organisation that reacts swiftly to the challenges our country has to face, including those on the front line of COVID-19 battle. We appreciate your support deeply!" Yuriy Rozumnyi said.

Deputy Head of Department of Medical Care Organization and Development Division of the Health Department of Donetsk Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Padenko, also noted the unprecedented scale of the assistance that Rinat Akhmetov provides for the oblast and emphasized the importance of the transfer of ventilators:

"The need for modern ventilators that help patients recover was also brought out in Kostiantynivka Hospital which had only portable devices before that. Now they have the in-hospital ones. The same devices were received by the doctors of Kramatorsk, Bakhmut, Myrnohrad. We appreciate your  work greatly!"

Oleksandr Vyshniakov, SCM representative at the Donetsk Regional Headquarters which deals with the coronavirus epidemic, spoke about the great work done by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation in order to support Ukraine.

"Governments all over the world are struggling to get this equipment. Even doctors admit that it is almost impossible to buy high-end ventilators these days, because every country needs them. However, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation managed to deal with this task," Oleksandr Vyshniakov Vishnyakov noted. Then he handed over certificates for medical clothing which will be customly sized for each doctor. 

"This meeting with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation is not the first, but it is exceptional as we received the ventilators. The disease we are now combating has its own special aspects and causes respiratory complications. To overcome them, ventilation may be mandatory. Those devices that are available in surgical hospitals and intensive care units are not adapted to operate in that way. Now we are getting devices that meet the requirements that fit the time. Actually, they computers that help a doctor to give the correct ventilation mode to the patient, correct observation, correct monitoring," Chief Doctor of the communal non-commercial enterprise Nadezhda Infectious Diseases Hospital of Kostiantynivka, Nadezhda Sheichenko.

As explained by Nadezhda Sheichenko, doctors working in the medical facility that is fronted by her have already made all arrangements to operate the modern ventilators. The infectious disease medical professionals of Kostiantynivka completed online training from the leading Ukrainian experts who specialise in ventilation.

Our specialists have learned how to operate these devices. I am sincerely grateful to the Foundation for its cooperation, understanding, and realising that we also have small hospitals, Nadezhda Sheichenko added.

The webinar for medical professionals was organized by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation collaboratively with the Ministry of Health. The first conference was attended by over 800 doctors from all Oblasts of the country.

The TV series "How Ventilators Work", created by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation jointly with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, help receive distant training. The number of views exceeds 170,000.

The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has been supporting medical professionals from Donetsk Oblast to cope with the challenge from the very beginning of the epidemic. Rapid tests and personal protective equipment and equipment for hospitals and laboratories are being transferred to the main hospitals in Mariupol, Selydove, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk, Volnovakha, Sloviansk, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and other cities of the mining region.

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