Project Ask the Doctor of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation: How to Stop the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ukraine

The project Ask the Doctor of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation continues a series of its live broadcasts about COVID-19 with key healthcare experts of the country. Professor Alla Volokha, the head of the Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Paediatric Immunology of Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, a paediatric immunologist, a Doctor of Medical Sciences, explained how to stop the spread of the coronavirus in Ukraine, and how to protect children from infection and complications of the disease.

The doctor admitted that for now, compared to the spring of this year, the number of patients with the coronavirus in the country has decreased, but the precaution measures should not be neglected.

‘In the summer, the number of cases and deaths in neighbouring countries is growing. In addition, a new coronavirus delta variant is spreading. Unfortunately, in autumn we can witness an increase in the number of disease cases in Ukraine,’ said the doctor. 

Alla Volokha noted that in those countries where immunization was actively implemented the growth of the disease incidence is insignificant, even with the spread of mutated strains. She added:

‘Some vaccinated people can get infected, but it is not so severe form. The situation in Ukraine is stable, but the further incidence of the disease will depend on us – how we will behave, whether we will take care of our health and how we will protect ourselves. That is why, face-mask requirements and the use of antiseptics are essential.’

The immunologist recommended to protect children from contracting the coronavirus. This is because, despite the fact that young patients do not often have severe forms of COVID-19, there are still some patients who get into the intensive care unit and have complications. She explained:

‘Children who have had the coronavirus may suffer from multisystem inflammatory syndrome. In several weeks after the disease, they get a fever and expressed intoxication. Moreover, such children have weakness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, rash, while respiratory symptoms are manifested very rarely. In addition, if a child becomes ill, he or she can be a source of infection for their grandparents.
The expert noted that the United States and some European countries made a research and started vaccinating children over 12 years old against the coronavirus. Yet, scientists still continue studies on whether the immunization is safe for babies.

More than 11 million people have watched the project Ask the Doctor of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. These are live broadcasts with trusted experts. Among the guests of the previous broadcasts were Kateryna Amosova, a cardiologist, an associate member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, a member of the European Society of Cardiology; Yevhen Komarovskyi, a famous paediatrician of the country; Serhiy Komisarenko, a biochemist and researcher; Oleksandr Zaika, an immunologist of the Public Health Centre of the Ministry of Health; Oleh Chaban, a psychiatrist, a Doctor of Medical Sciences, a professor; Serhiy Dubrov, the President of the Association of Anaesthesiologists of Ukraine, and other experts.

You can watch recordings of weekly online meetings with doctors who talk about the coronavirus symptoms and drugs prescribed to patients with confirmed COVID-19, about nutritional preferences for patients, the latest global trends in the coronavirus treatment and many more topics, on the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation’s Facebook page, as well as on its YouTube account.