Flying Hospital lands in Kyiv to provide free health care (10/13/96)

Flying Hospital lands in Kyiv to provide free health care

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - An unusual L-1011 passenger aircraft descended from the heavens on September 28 into Kyiv's Boryspil Airport, carrying to Ukraine 65 doctors, and $12 million in medicine from the United States and the latest in medical technology in a humanitarian mission called "Operation Blessing."

The plane, the Flying Hospital, had been outfitted with surgical, dental and ophthamological equipment, and with medicines and skilled personnel also aboard, it arrived ready to give Ukraine a medical helping hand.

Ukrainians rarely have access to Western medical treatment and all the heralded hi-tech procedures and equipment associated with it. They have consoled themselves with the fact that at least they have access to cost-free medicine, which is becoming less true as clinics and hospitals attach service fees (although minimal) for treatment to subsidize expenses.

So, when Operation Blessing set up shop in Ukraine to give free health care to Kyiv's residents from September 21 to October 4, the turnout was as could be expected.

Thousands jammed nine polyclinics and hospitals in Kyiv that were staffed in all by 80 doctors and 170 support staff from America. They were looking for medical advice, treatment and prescriptions for their various ailments and diseases. At one place, the Boryspil Polyclinic, 2,500 people were examined in the first two days, according to Operation Blessing Public Relations Manager Sharon Gabriel.

When a radio station mistakenly aired a telephone number that was supposed to be used only by reporters as an information source, the response was such that the district telephone system broke down. At the Bratislava Hotel, where the volunteers stayed, people showed up asking at the front desk where they could obtain treatment.

Operation Blessing is a charitable organization established in 1978 by the U.S tele-evangelist and politician Pat Robertson. It was originally organized as a disaster relief operation and lately has turned its attention to bringing modern medical technology to less-developed countries. The organization's last major project was in El Salvador and Nicaragua. In Ukraine their goal was to treat the sick and share medical knowledge with Ukrainian doctors.

They also brought Bibles, anti-abortion literature and their vision of a Christian life. There were no Bible-thumping preachings, no fire-and-brimstone visions of hell, no "Amens". Only, what by appearance was an honest desire to help others.

And maybe recruit another person for the cause.

At Triyeshchyna Polyclinic No.1, Dr. Chris Feucht, medical team supervisor for Operation Blessing, which is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., explained that the team of doctors were here to treat the whole person - the physical, the emotional and the spiritual, which, of course, included spiritual counseling. "We also tell them about Christ. Then they go to the pharmacy, where most get vitamins and the medicines they need," explained Dr. Feucht.

Dozens of individuals waited in a hallway and offices of the fourth-floor general medicine clinic of the polyclinic on October 1. They had already passed through the registration process next door at the Florentine Theater, where dozens more were being processed.

They waited to see doctors who listened to their complaints, read their medical history books (during Soviet rule, medical history documents were kept by the individual) and prescribed treatment.

The team of doctors at the nine sites was able to give a wide variety of treatments, in the areas of cardiology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, gynecology, urology, general surgery and optometry.

Dr. Feucht explained, "Primarily, we go by history and physical examination. If a person needs a test, I follow up with a doctor to get it done. Our medicines cover a fair amount of the basics. Because we need to be as cost efficient as possible, we do not have the very latest, but then they would not be able to get that type of medicine here, anyway (for refill)," said Dr. Feucht.

He said referrals were made to Operation Blessing surgeons working in several Kyiv hospitals for treatment that required surgeries, as well, although he admitted that many of the surgeries that would take place during Operation Blessing's two-week stay in Ukraine had been pre-arranged before the mission began after consultation with Ukraine's doctors.

According to Dr. Feucht, the service in Ukraine took on a different character from previous missions, to Latin America, Russia, Kazakstan, Columbia and Zaire. Most people who showed up for treatment at those sites were seeing a doctor for one of the few times in their lives. In Kyiv it was different.

"Here they have been showing up with their medical histories in their hand, with their prescriptions. These are at times desperate people. They are coming to us for a second or third opinion. They think we can provide them medical help that Ukraine does not have," said Dr. Feucht.

He explained that, in fact, Ukraine's doctors know medical procedures as well as any Western doctor. "They only lack the technology and access to the medicines that we can provide."

Operation Blessing left behind medical equipment and whatever vitamins and medicines were not used so that the patients who were treated will have access to follow-up care.

Dr. Paul Williams, director of the medical division of the Christian Broadcasting Network, which is Mr. Robertson's base of operations, said he expected that the team would see more than 10,000 people during the two-week length of the mission. During Operation Blessing's Central America mission, which took place in June and July of this year, 14,000 people were seen.

Asked why Ukraine was chosen for the Flying Hospital project, he replied, "It's quite simple, my wife is Ukrainian, she left me no other choice."

However, Darrell Clarke, a director of Operation Blessing, said that actually there were two more reasons. "Ukraine is an emerging country, which we believe will be one of Europe's most important in the next 10-20 years," said Mr. Clarke. The second reason he gave was "Ukraine's 1,000-year commitment to Christianity and Jesus Christ." "We feel a closeness to these people," explained Mr. Clarke.

This is the first transoceanic assignment for the Flying Hospital, which serves as the focal point for Operation Blessing. In Ukraine the aircraft was used mostly for ophthalmic and dental procedures. The front cabin seating area was utilized as a classroom to introduce Ukrainian doctors to American medical techniques.

The plane was transformed into a mobile hospital under Mr. Clarke's leadership, which the longtime pilot said took 18 months and cost $25 million.

The plane has three operating tables, two dental chairs, which are also used for ear, nose and throat surgeries, pre- and post- operative care units for up to 11 people and a classroom for up to 67 students at the front of the cabin, which is also the seating area for passengers when the plane is airborne. Also on board are X-ray machines, a fluoroscope, a phaco-emulsifier for treating cataracts, autoclave sterilizers and other laboratory equipment.

Dr. Williams and Mr. Clarke emphasized that the costs of the plane and the Operation Blessing project are covered by donations from Americans and others, usually contributed in small sums. Operation Blessing's next assignment is the Philippines in February 1997.

Dr. Williams said Operation Blessing and the Flying Hospital have plans to return to Ukraine within two years.