Connecticut corporation donates medical equipment to the CCRF (06/04/00)

Connecticut corporation donates medical equipment to the CCRF

WALLINGFORD, Conn. - Connecticut-based Novametrix Medical Systems Corp. announced the donation of three pulse oxymeters to the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund at a special press conference on April 24. The medical equipment will help expand the fund's successes in combating infant mortality in Ukraine.

The goodwill gesture was timed to coincide with the opening of the CCRF's Connecticut office, as well as with the commemoration of the 14th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster.

Among the special guests attending the press conference were U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the highest-ranking woman in Congress, and novelist Irene Zabytko whose novel about Chornobyl, "The Sky Unwashed," has received wide acclaim from literary critics.

Rep. DeLauro praised the CCRF as "the most effective private voluntary organization serving the Chornobyl victims in Ukraine." Ms. DeLauro thanked the CCRF and especially its New Haven Chapter for keeping the memory of Chornobyl alive. "To most of the world, Chornobyl is long past and nearly forgotten," said Rep. DeLauro, "for the people in Ukraine, it's an ongoing daily nightmare."

The congresswoman expressed deep concern for the plight of families struggling to cope with their children's cancer and birth defects. "The infant mortality rate in Ukraine today is three times the rate of other European countries. Birth defects have nearly doubled and oncological illnesses have tripled," she said.

Ms. DeLauro praised Novametrix for donating pulse oxymeters to the CCRF and noted "your contributions have helped the CCRF to reduce the infant mortality rate in some Ukrainian hospitals by more than half."

William J. LaCourciere, president and chief executive officer of Novametrix, welcomed the congresswoman and representatives of the CCRF, saying that he has been humbled by the energy and dedication that the CCRF has shown in helping the victims of the Chornobyl tragedy and added: "This company is proud to be a small part of your mission."

Following the press conference, the congresswoman joined Mr. LaCourciere and local activists of the CCRF for a tour of the Novametrix manufacturing facility, where Engineering Director Joel Maynard explained the critical role that pulse oxymeters have played in monitoring the pulse rates and oxygen levels in infants suffering from respiratory complications.

The CCRF has placed Novametrix pulse oxymeters in hospitals in Lutsk, Poltava and Vinnytsia. The newly donated units will be used to establish a new neonatal intensive care unit in the city of Rivne, which serves a region heavily contaminated by radioactive fallout from Chornobyl.

Orest Dubno, a member of the CCRF's board of directors and a former revenue commissioner for the state of Connecticut, thanked Novametrix for its generous support. CCRF Executive Director Alex Kuzma thanked Mr. LaCourciere and International Sales Director Patrick Shannon for making the donation possible. He also thanked all the engineers and workers at Novametrix who have produced such high-quality instruments that are greatly prized by Ukrainian doctors who serve Chornobyl victims. Mr. Kuzma also praised Novametrix's European partners, Bob Sklar and Volodymyr Mitin of NZ Techno, for providing free on-site service and training for Ukrainian hospitals.

The announcement of CCRF's partnership with Novametrix received extensive coverage in the New Haven Register and the Wallingford Voice.

To support the CCRF's campaign to combat infant mortality in Ukraine, donors may send tax-deductible contributions to: CCRF, 272 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078.

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