May 19, 2014
Ukraine
Representatives of Caritas CR gave new medical devices to four regional hospitals in Western Ukraine. They also assisted in psychosocial training in Kiev and Lvov.
Between the 5th and the 15th of May, representatives of Caritas CR handed medical devices and material to four regional hospitals in Western Ukraine. The help they provided was in collaboration with the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the terms of the project “Caritas for Ukraine – material and psychosocial support for victims of the disorder in Ukraine”.
In addition to this, between the 5th and the 11th of May, training programs for more than 50 workers from psychosocial teams took place in Kiev and Lvov. These programs were aimed at qualified psychologists and psychotherapists in Ukraine and were taught by four psychologists from Slovakia.
The medical devices were delivered to hospitals in the towns of Novovolynsk, Stryi, Ternopil and Kolomyia. The medical equipment included anaesthesia ventilators, oxygenators, EKG devices, exhaust devices, tonometers, medicines and packages containing surgery material.
“We have known about the situation in Ukraine for a long time, it is clear to us that health care is an area that needs to be helped very urgently and this is not only because of the injured people from Maidan,” said Václav Keprt, director of the Archdiocese Caritas Olomouc and one of the two participants on the journey. The General Consul of CR, Mr. Miroslav Klíma, also assisted in the transmission of equipment to the hospital in Stryi, “He was surprised in a positive way by the extent of our work in Ukraine,” added Václav Keprt.
The aim of the project was to help people who are experiencing health disorders and have been forced to return to their place of permanent residence. Thanks to this program, they will now receive the higher quality of medical care available in local hospitals.
“The people in Ukraine appreciate very much our help and not only the material help. They are thankful that we do not forget them,” said Václav Keprt.
Training of Psychosocial-Support Workers
Psychosocial teams have been working in Ukraine since March. Their members consist of employees from psychosocial centres that are partner organisations of Caritas CR in Ukraine. They are located in the towns of Novovolyns, Stryi, Ternopil, Kolomyia and Kiev. Aside from these members, psychologists and priests from Eastern Ukraine, a place of considerable tension, also participated in the course.
Commenting on the situation after his return to the Czech Republic, Václav Keprt said “The present situation in Ukraine literally changes the people. They live in enormous stress from insecurity. We do not realize it entirely, but they are living in a real war where people are dying, where there are real martyrs, where young men join the army and are immediately sent to the eastern part of the country. Border guards are armed with machine guns; when passing the territory you see the billboards ‘death to invaders’”. In concluding, Keprt confirmed the real need for this type of help in Ukraine, “We were told by hospitals that the number of heart attacks and psychological problems have increased.”
The aim of psychosocial teams is not only psychological support. The teams consider cases individually and specialists help clients to find ways out of an emergency. When possible, additional help is made possible through connections with partner organisations.
The above mentioned projects were supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Czech Republic) with the amount of 1.5 million CZK. Caritas CR contributed the amount of 250 thousand from the public collection project ‘Help for Ukraine.’
The public collection project organised by Caritas CR has so far raised a total of 1 160 338 CZK. The collection is still open and you can contribute to ‘Help for Ukraine’ by sending a financial gift to the account 55660022/0800 of the bank Česká spořitelna, variable symbol 104. You can also contribute by sending a gift SMS “DMS UKRAJINA” to the phone number 87 777 (price of 1 SMS is 30 CZK; caritas CR will receive 28,50 CZK from every SMS; this service is operated by the organisation Fórum dárců; technical support is ensured by the company ATS Praha).
Collection sheets are also accessible in the residence of Archdiocese Caritas Olomouc (Křížkovského ul. 6), this gives people from the region of Olomouc the opportunity to contribute in cash too.
