Neonatal equipment saves lives in Volyn (06/21/98)

Neonatal equipment saves lives in Volyn

LUTSK, Ukraine - Last November the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund delivered new neonatal equipment to the Volyn Regional Unified Children's Medical Center in the provincial capital of Lutsk. The airlift was made possible by a large grant from the John Deere Co.; the Lutsk project was initiated by Prof. Volodymyr and Oksana Bakum of Highland, N.Y.

On May 14, Dr. H. V. Yaschylin, director of the Lutsk hospital, sent photographs and a personal letter from the Davydiuk family, whose daughter Viktoria was the first infant to benefit from an emergency transport incubator, delivered by the CCRF. The market value of the incubator, complete with pulse oximeters and other accessories was $36,320. The Davydiuks, Viktor and Tetiana, wrote:

"Esteemed Prof. and Mrs. Bakum!

"With great respect and sincere gratitude we're writing to you as a young Volynian family. Impatiently, we awaited our child's entry into this world, but as fate would have it, our infant was born severely premature. Every day of the child's survival depended on the intensive, persistent care of doctors. Inasmuch as the maternity ward did not have all the resources needed for the treatment of such children, it was necessary to transport her to the regional children's hospital. And in this way your precious equipment rescued us. Our little girl was the first patient of your good hearts. For this we thank you again and from our souls we wish you many years of joyous life."

Dr. Vaschylin echoed the sentiments of the Davydiuk couple: "On behalf of my colleagues and myself, I wish to thank you again for the valuable equipment which you sent to our hospital ... This is how effectively your incubator is working in the Volyn territories, making specialized medical aid accessible to newborns from even the most remote regions of our oblast. In the name of the children of Volyn, we bow to your sincere heart and your generous soul!"

The CCRF is now preparing its 20th airlift to help combat the high rate of infant mortality in Ukraine. To date, CCRF has delivered more than 1,000 tons of aid valued at $40 million dollars. Deliveries of equally important neonatal equipment and other life-saving supplies are being planned to qualified hospitals in Chernihiv, Lutsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia and other cities.

For more information, call (973) 376-5140, or e-mail: [email protected]. Donations may be sent to Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, 272 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, N.J. 07078.