The Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation was signed between the Rinat Akhmetov’s Foundation for Development of Ukraine and the Ivano-Frankovsk Oblast State Administration

The main area of cooperation shall be devoted to overcoming the epidemic of tuberculosis in the oblast in the framework of the Program of the Foundation “Stop TB in Ukraine”, with the financial support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Although the incidence rate in Ivano-Frankovsk oblast is quite low (for the 6 months of 2011 it holds the 12th place among the oblasts of Ukraine, with the incidence rate of 34,1/100 thous. people, which is below the national rate of 35,2/100 thousand people), in the oblast there is an increase by 4,9% in the incidence rate compared with the 6 months of the past year.

Anatoly Zabolotny, Director of the Rinat Akhmetov’s Foundation for Development of Ukraine: “Given the increasing incidence rate the proportion of patients excreting the bacteria decreased, which indicates a lack of a quality diagnosis. Therefore, the planned by the Foundation optimization of the laboratory network, training of personnel, supply of equipment for II-III level laboratories will play an important role in improving the diagnosis in the oblast. The Program also envisages the equipment of the MDR TB (the most severe form that is resistant to most drugs) unit with bactericidal radiators and a modern ventilation system, which would provide for prevention of the cross-contamination, particularly of the medical staff. In order to have the actual data on the incidence rate and monitor the patients a unified electronic register of data shall be introduced - to this end, we’ll install the relevant equipment and train the staff”.

Welcoming the Foundation in the Carpathian region, the Head of the Ivano-Frankovsk Oblast State Administration Mikhail Vyshivanyuk praised the contribution of the socially adapted business to different sectors, particularly to the crucial one – health care. The governor recalled the collaboration with the Foundation for Development of Ukraine in the field of provision the oblast oncological unit with modern equipment and ensured that the oblast will do everything necessary for overcoming tuberculosis. “These are the two dangerous diseases, which need to be fought against collaboratively. Only the effective fight brings actual results. We see it in the Donetsk oblast, where the Program of the Foundation contributed to the reduction in TB morbidity and mortality. In this regard, we need to apply the national approach and government support”, - said Mr. Vyshivanyuk. Also, the governor said that the Agreement on provision of the oncological unit with modern CT scanner had been signed, and the technical arrangements are implemented.
 
We would like to remind that a year ago the Rinat Akhmetov’s Foundation signed on behalf of Ukraine the five-year grant agreement with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria amounting to 95 million US dollars. The funds are aimed for overcoming the TB epidemic, which has been declared in the country back in 1995. The Foundation also invests the funds in the Program implementation. It has the extensive experience in overcoming the dangerous disease, being engaged in the implementation of its own “Stop TB” Program since 2007.

Other photos from the event can be found in the  photo gallery.

Press office of the Rinat Akhmetov’s Foundation for Development of Ukraine