MMC in Ukraine

The situation of impoverished Ukrainian villagers is different but no less desperate than that of Burmese refugees. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, conditions have deteriorated markedly for the less-fortunate. In the villages and small towns, clinics lack essential supplies and must operate under conditions which would shock most Canadians. The central government cannot fund even the most basic needs, and particularly needy groups such as children damaged by the Chernobyl nuclear accident depend on help from outside the country. Myron is of Ukrainian heritage and given the need, it seemed natural for him and his wife to extend their charity there.

2004 Ukraine Project Report

—Dr. Myron Semkuley

This year’s Ukraine Project was the most successful ever. We visited to monitor all of last year’s project sites and expanded most of them. We also added on 6 new projects. This gave us a total of 31 projects, on 20 sites over 3 provinces in Western Ukraine. Over the past year, MMC shipped over 2,600 kilograms of medicines, medical supplies and instruments and clothes for a value of over $120,000. The amount of funds delivered by the team is outlined in the financial report. Here are some examples of MMC’s work this year:

We were in the medical clinic in Podillya when a quiet, shy, young lady came in to see us. She was a diabetic, on insulin and asked if we could get a glucometer for her because she was suffering from too many episodes of low blood sugar reactions and never knew if her blood sugar was too high. We were not able to supply everyone with a glucometer as we would have to provide the strips also and that would be too expensive. Then she told us that she was the “feldcher” at the medical clinic in a nearby village, 10 kilometres away.

The next day we went to her village – Slobidka, to see her and her clinic.

With us was Dr. Romaniuk, a physician who is responsible for the medical clinics in many of the villages in that area. This clinic consisted of 2 rooms in half of an old dilapidated 5 room building. The other rooms had not been used for years. The walls, windows and doors were all worn, paint peeling and plaster falling off. The floor boards were rotten and I twice stepped through the floor. The feldcher was very apologetic for the condition of the clinic but said no money for renovations had been available for over 15 years. There was no heat, no water, no medical supplies, no instruments, and no medicines. But yet she and a nurse did their best to provide what simple medical assistance they could to the people of the village.

We assessed the situation and decided that MMC could help this clinic. We were able to fund the following:

·       a new, solid concrete floor in the 2 rooms of the clinic.

·       Linoleum to cover the concrete floor so it feels warmer to the feet in winter.

·       Repair and paint all the doors and windows on the clinic side of the building.

·       Provide a large amount of appropriate medicines to be distributed by the feldcher, upon a physician’s orders. Medicines such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Robaxacet and antacids could be dispensed at the discretion of the feldcher.

·       Some simple diagnostic instruments.

·       Six plastic basins for washing wounds/soaking hands or feet before treatment.

·       Medical supplies (gauze, tape, bandages).

·       One glucometer and 200 test strips and lancets.

Vera, the feldcher and her colleague, Tanya the nurse had never in their lives been offered such generosity before. It made them both feel that they could finally be so much more helpful to their people by having a decent place in which to see them and supplies and medicines with which to help them.

Next year when we return, we will monitor this project. If all goes well as we suspect it should, then we will try to enlarge the clinic (renovate more of that building) and provide heat. The following year, 2006, we may try to provide a running water supply for indoor toileting, washing and showering. Most people in those villages rarely bathe as they have no means to do so.

We also visited Pidvolocheskay, a small city of 12,000 people and a 300 bed hospital. But the hospital’s furnaces are burned out and the laundry facilities are antiquated (shown on right).

Most wings of the hospital have either no heat or barely minimal heat. The newborn nursery therefore had no heat and no heated cots for the newborn babies. Last year (2003) a set of twins were born, healthy. To keep them warm, two hot water bottles were placed in the cot beside them. One of the bottles broke and scalded one of the twins. That baby subsequently died. Such is life (and death) amongst the peasant folk in rural Ukraine.

This year, due to your generosity, MMC was able to provide funds for a new electric heating system for the newborn nursery so that the entire room will always be warm.

These stories are not exceptions, but are typical examples of the low standards and difficulties that all the village people in Ukraine live with. Every village, town and small city has these problems, all over Ukraine. These are but two instances of how MMC has provided a better, safer life for those people, with your very kind donations. There are many more places where your donations have improved lives. Please feel proud that you have made a wonderful contribution to the betterment of the lives of thousands of people.

Thank you so very much, on behalf of MMC and the villagers in Ukraine who have felt your kindness and generosity.     

 —Dr. Myron Semkuley