Stop coronavirus in Ukraine: the chronicles of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation's assistance to the country
The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation was the first in Ukraine to respond to the threat of COVID-19. Closely coordinated by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, jointly with FC Shakhter and SCM, the Foundation provides state hospitals with the most necessary things. Here is an incomplete list of what the country received from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.
FEBRUARY 2020
On 22 February, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation delivered a cargo of humanitarian aid to Novi Sanzhary, Poltava Oblastfor the Ukrainian evacuated from China and undergoing observation at a local sanatorium. The "care kits" include blankets, personal hygiene products, bathrobes and other necessities, as well as educational games for children. The Foundation has organized a psychological aid line for evacuees from Wuhan and their relatives.
The Foundation is entering into close cooperation with the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in order to discover the country's medical needs to combat the coronavirus.
MARCH 2020
Rinat Akhmetov decides to send 300 million UAH to fight COVID-19 in Ukraine. Therefore, he joints all the resources of the Charitable Foundation, DTEK and Metinvest, FC Shakhtar and all SCM assets.
"Coronavirus is a problem that the modern world has probably faced for the first time on this scale. I am absolutely sure that everyone in this situation should think about what exactly they can help Ukraine and Ukrainians," Rinat Akhmetov said.
As decided by the Founder, the Foundation purchases 300,000 coronavirus rapid tests for the country.
On 11 March, the Foundation transferred ventilations and oxygen concentrators for them, an insulating mobile box, a protective biological and anti-chemical suit, 400 protective disposable coveralls, 80 infrared thermometers with a laser pointer, 10,000 protective masks, multi-layer respirators to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. The Ministry of Health distributes ventilators and concentrators to public hospitals in Zhytomyr, Poltava, Rivne and Zakarpattia Oblasts.
On 20 March, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine teamed up to expand distance education in the country and sign a corresponding Memorandum. The first joint step is a special project for Ukrainian teachers – the educational series "Quarantine: Online Services for Teachers". It is a series of video courses where teachers master advanced distance learning tools based on online services such as Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, Zoom, Class Dojo, Classtime. These tools open up a whole range of possibilities that make teaching and learning online maximally modern, convenient and understandable. Let us, for instance, consider that you can use it to combine lesson materials, tasks in different formats, grades, and even ads.
The series was extremely popular with the teaching community. About 500,000 viewers have already watched it on the digital platforms of the Foundation and the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
On 26 March, Rinat Akhmetov does an interview to Ukrayinska Pravda in which he talks about the motives that encouraged him to help the country combat the coronavirus.
"SCM is a socially responsible business, and we have never passed by any trouble. Moreover, we will not do this now. There are cities in almost all parts of Ukraine where our companies operate, and it is our duty to help," Rinat Akhmetov said, answering questions from the journalists. He pointed out that there is no point of replacing the government, and the only motive that drives him is the desire to help Ukraine and its citizens.
The Founder gave the instructions to the Foundation to purchase 200 more ventilators devices and transfer them to state hospitals in Ukraine.
On 30 March, jointly with TRK Ukraina, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation launches a social campaign #ParentsATHOME. It is a series of videos that encourage older people to abide the rule of thumb - Stay at Home during quarantine. 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 – appear before the camera in the videos hag tagged #ParentsATHOME.
On 31 March, 300,000 coronavirus rapid tests purchased by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for Ukraine were delivered in Boryspil from China on a cargo plane.
APRIL 2020
On 3 April, the Foundation transferred 300,000 test systems to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
On 6 April, jointly with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and FC Shakhtar, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation presented the educational series "Digital Physical Education for Pupils featuring Sports Stars." This is a 12-episode educational course for children during self-isolation. The video lessons are conducted by the FC Shakhtar players, namely, by captain Andrii Pyatov and defender Serhii Kryvtsov. The stars of the humorous Mamahohotala Show Yevhenii Yanovych and Oleh Masliuk, ambassador of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, also appear in the series.
The series is setting records. It got about 850,000 views on the Foundation's, the the Ministry of Digital Transformation and FC Shakhtar's media. Dozens of national and regional TV channels request it for on-air broadcasting.
On 6 April, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and FC Shakhtar passed 20,000 rapid tests to detect COVID-19 in Kharkiv Oblast.
On 7 April, 50,000 test systems were received by medical workers of Donetsk Oblast.
On 9 April, the Foundation delivered 10,000 rapid tests to Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.
On the same day, jointly with DTEK, the Foundation transferred 30,000 rapid tests to Luhansk Oblast and another 30,000 tests to Zaporizhzhia Region jointly with Zaporizhstal (Metinvest).
On 10 April, 30,000 tests from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation were delivered to medical workers of Lviv Oblast. Together with the FUIB bank, it also transferred 8000 protective suits to the doctors of the region.
On 13 April, another 50,000 tests were delivered to Donetsk Oblast.
On 14 April, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and DTEK passed on 30,000 rapid tests to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
On 15 April, 25,000 rapid tests to detect coronavirus were delivered to Kyiv by the Foundation.
On 16 April, Rinat Akhmetov Foundation received 25,000 rapid tests to detect COVID-19 from medical workers in Kyiv Oblast.
On the same day, jointly with FUIB, 8000 protective coveralls were transferred to 30 hospitals in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.
On 17 April, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation sent modern equipment to the Mariupol Department of the Donetsk Regional Laboratory Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. That was QuantStudio™ 5 - a testing analyzer complete with SARS-CoV-2 onestep RT-PCR,CE-IVD test system and Biosafety Box E Series 120 cm, MSC-IIA-E120, Metisafe. This is one of the most modern devices of its class, equipped with a test system and a biosafety box. The box completely isolates medical workers from all airborne infections.
On the same day, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and the TSUM Kyiv, with the assisstance of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, joined the world flashmob "Everything will be Alright." Bright posters with heartwarming slogans appeared in shop-windows of the Central Department Store of Kyiv. They also serve as a reminder to abide the rules during the quarantine.
On 19 April , Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast received half a ton of cargo with children's furniture, clothing, baby formulas, nappies and other things. The assistance is intended for little Andriana, who was born on 30 March in the perinatal center of Ivano-Frankivsk. Her mother, 36-year-old Halyna, died the day after the baby was born. The woman was diagnosed with COVID-19.
On 21 April, the medics of the town of Volnovakha received special protection equipment from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and Lemtrans LLC.
On 23 April, jointly with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry of Health and the Association of Anesthesiologists of Ukraine, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation presented a new video project - "COVID-19: what you need to know about the operation of ventilators." This mini-interview-type pilot series is addressed to both medical workers and everyone who is interested in how ventilators save patients who suffer from complications from the coronavirus infection.
On 23 April, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation transferred Convergys® PCRtist, a modern coronavirus testing analyser complete with test cartridges for it, to the Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
On 24 April, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and DTEK presented 100 reusable special protection kits, 2000 masks, safety goggles and disposable shoe covers to the medical staff of Primorsk (Zaporizhzia Oblast). 500 rapid tests have already been transferred to local hospitals.
On 29 April, 8000 protective suits from the Foundation and FUIB were received by medical staff of Chernivtsi Oblast.
On 28-30 April, jointly with Metinvest, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation handed over more 20,000 rapid tests to hospitals in Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk Oblasts.
State medical institutions in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts also received fuels from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and Parallel company.
Next thing on the agenda is to purchase 200 ventilators or Ukraine.
"The next batches of ventilators have already been purchased, and we are doing everything possible to bring them to Ukraine shortly. Other expensive equipment is being delivered to Ukraine as well. We continue our assistance to the country," Natalia Yemchenko, a member of the Supervisory Board of the Foundation, said.
