Sylvia Blake's legacy: projects to help children's hospitals in Ukraine (07/06/03)

Sylvia Blake's legacy: projects to help children's hospitals in Ukraine

by Larissa Kyj

PHILADELPHIA - A shining example of generosity and humanitarian effort is that of Sylvia Blake, a woman who loved her fellow man and never forgot her roots. She died on September 25, 2002, in Michigan, but her memory lives on as she left a considerable portion of her assets, approximately $600,000 specifically earmarked for a special project to aid children's hospitals in Ukraine.

Ms. Blake had visited Ukraine in 1971, had seen the abysmal conditions in the hospitals and was determined to make a difference. She made a specific bequest allowing the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, an organization that she remembered had helped Ukrainian immigrants resettle in the U.S. in the 1940s, to administer the program.

The executor of the estate asked the UUARC to submit a detailed proposal for a specific program that would benefit ill children in Ukraine. With the help of the two UUARC directors in Lviv and Kyiv, 15 hospitals were targeted for this project and a grant application was submitted.

Needs were ascertained, bids were obtained and evaluated, hospital directors were consulted and an in-depth investigation began into the procedures that would be required to turn Ms. Blake's dream into reality. Information from all sources led to the decision that the ambulances would be the most immediately useful and the most crucially needed items.

The head of the Department of Children's Medical Facilities of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Raissa Mojsejenko, was consulted and suggested that the UUARC consider assisting the more rural and less-equipped areas of Ukraine.

The question arose whether some of the more rural areas would require a more powerful vehicle to better handle the dismal road conditions. The directors of the hospitals were polled regarding the interior outfitting of these ambulances, as there were two options: more complex technology built-in and simpler interiors with portable diagnostic and support technology. All of the doctors opted for the second interior option, and all but two required the heavier-terrain vehicle.

Vera Prinko, the director of UUARC's Kyiv office, next began researching potential sources for the ambulances.

The general consensus was that Ukraine would maximally benefit from Ms. Blake's legacy if the UUARC purchased Ukrainian-assembled vehicles, thereby also supporting the economy. Thus, the two in-country dealers of ambulances were approached. Final comparisons and negotiations led to contracts for 15 ambulances, 13 UAZ heavy-duty and two HAZ regular vehicles, with the local dealers that offered the best prices, most beneficial discounts and best extended service plan. The vehicles were delivered by regional distributors for ease of delivery and servicing.

The ambulances were delivered in February to the following recipients: Dolynska Likarnia - Dolyna, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast; Nadvirianska Dytiacha Likarnia - Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast; Drohobytskyi Polohovyi Budynok - Drohobych, Lviv Oblast; Lysetska Likarnia - Lysets, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast; Krasnodonska Dytiacha Likarnia - Krasnodon, Luhansk Oblast; Novo-Odeska Likarnia - Nova Odesa, Mykolaiv Oblast; Tyvrivska Raionna Likarnia - Tyvriv, Vinnytsia Oblast; Artemivska Raionna Likarnia - Artemivsk, Donetsk Oblast; Turiiska Raionna Likarnia - Turiisk, Volyn Oblast; Dytiacha Oblasna Likarnia - Sumy, Sumy Oblast; Volodarska Raionna Likarnia - Kyiv Oblast; Skvyrska Tsentralna Likarnia - Skvyra, Kyiv Oblast'; Lutskyi Polohovyi Budynok - Lutsk Volyn Oblast; Iziumskia Tsentralna Raionna Likarnia - Izium, Kharkiv Oblast; and Seredno-Budska Tsentralna Raionna Likarnia - Sumy Oblast.

The hospitals reacted with gratitude and disbelief at their good fortune. The local press wrote many articles spotlighting Ms. Blake, the UUARC and her humanitarian gesture, and several hospitals have even put up plaques and photographs in memory of Ms. Blake. The hospital director of the Sumy Hospital, Dr. Arkadi Lushpa, said that since independence the oblast has gotten less than $40,000 in total foreign humanitarian aid, and, therefore, they were thrilled to be included in this project.

The Blake Project Proposal included, in addition to the ambulances, necessary equipment for pediatric care - from portable incubators to pediatric respirators and small-scale surgical and support equipment. Each of the 14 selected hospitals will receive the necessary upgrades to serve its patients. The ordering of the medical equipment for the individual hospitals will commence as the UUARC is informed that the repairs and rehabilitation for the facilities are nearing completion by the Ministry of Health.

In much of Ukraine, the child illness and mortality rate is very high, with children suffering from chronic respiratory disease, high rates of cancer and, currently, an outbreak of tuberculosis, not to mention HIV-AIDS. The most cost-effective method of improving the medical care of the greatest number of patients would be by providing the regional clinics and smaller village medical centers with standardized medical equipment packets. Thus, the UUARC has been working on finalizing deals with the manufacturers of the equipment for the medical packets, which mark the third phase of the project. The assembly of the packets is expected to be finalized this fall.

Larissa Kyj is president of the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee.

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